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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: roadman65 on July 23, 2014, 05:38:50 PM

Title: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: roadman65 on July 23, 2014, 05:38:50 PM
I was noticing that in Delaware that all of US 9 is not posted higher in maximum speed than 50 mph its whole tenor there.

I was often wondering if there are any US routes at all that are under 55 mph its whole entire route anyplace?  So far I was only able to come up with in one specific state for US routes like US 9 in DE and I am guessing that US 5 in VT never gets higher than 50 mph because like Delaware, Vermont has a maximum speed limit of 50 on two lane highways with US 7 the exception because it is a super two where it is signed for 55 mph.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: agentsteel53 on July 23, 2014, 05:42:27 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 23, 2014, 05:38:50 PM
I was noticing that in Delaware that all of US 9 is not posted higher in maximum speed than 50 mph its whole tenor there.



I'm a bit disturbed by the whole tenor of that sentence.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: Billy F 1988 on July 23, 2014, 05:55:26 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 23, 2014, 05:42:27 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 23, 2014, 05:38:50 PM
I was noticing that in Delaware that all of US 9 is not posted higher in maximum speed than 50 mph its whole tenor there.



I'm a bit disturbed by the whole tenor of that sentence.

What does that first sentence even mean, roadman? You're not making any sense of this. It would have been a bit better to see something in the vein of "I was noticing that in Delaware, the posted speed limit on all of US 9 is no higher than 50 MPH", instead of the yucky grub of what you first wrote.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: vdeane on July 23, 2014, 05:57:59 PM
US 2 has a couple 55 segments in Vermont.  I think US 2 might be 50 over its entire length in NH though it's been a while.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: The Nature Boy on July 23, 2014, 06:03:57 PM
Does U.S. 4 in Vermont make it to 55?

Edit - As soon as I posted, I remembered the section west of Rutland.

Do the non-freeway portions get to 55?
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: vdeane on July 23, 2014, 06:23:27 PM
Pretty sure that's a no, but I've never driven it.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: shadyjay on July 23, 2014, 07:02:44 PM
Vermont's top speed on a 2-lane surface road is 50 MPH.  It really should be 55, IMHO. 
In addition, the speed limit on roads in VT is 50 MPH unless otherwise posted.  There are sections of town roads (paved and dirt) that will say "END 40 MPH SPEED" or something similar.  That means, legally, you can go 50 MPH.

US 2 has a small limited-access portion just west of I-89 Exit 17 in Colchester.  There, I believe the speed is 55 MPH.
US 4 has a top speed of 65 MPH since it is limited-access between Rutland and the VT/NY state line at Fair Haven.
US 5 does not get higher than 50 MPH since it does not have any limited-access portions.
US 7 has a top speed of 55 MPH on its limited-access portion.  Much of this portion is a "Super 2" (no median and single lane each way, with climbing lanes).
US 302, same as US 5. 

However
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: SSOWorld on July 23, 2014, 07:31:20 PM
Very odd that the Northeast and Mid-atlantic has some roads that are not above 50.  Connecticut anyone?
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: The Nature Boy on July 23, 2014, 07:45:47 PM
Quote from: SSOWorld on July 23, 2014, 07:31:20 PM
Very odd that the Northeast and Mid-atlantic has some roads that are not above 50.  Connecticut anyone?

The biggest culture shock to me when I moved to New England was dealing with the lower speed limits on rural roads. I never understood why it was so low. I always assumed that it was due to antiquated laws that were never updated.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: froggie on July 23, 2014, 09:10:30 PM
QuoteI think US 2 might be 50 over its entire length in NH though it's been a while.

There's a stretch west of Gorham that hits 55.

QuoteDo the non-freeway portions get to 55?
(referring to US 4 VT)

No.

QuoteUS 2 has a small limited-access portion just west of I-89 Exit 17 in Colchester.  There, I believe the speed is 55 MPH.

Correct.  From just west of I-89 to just east of Lake Champlain.  There's another 55 MPH stretch from East Danville through the I-91 interchange.

QuoteUS 7 has a top speed of 55 MPH on its limited-access portion.  Much of this portion is a "Super 2" (no median and single lane each way, with climbing lanes).

The 4-lane section south of Rutland (to the north end of Wallingford) is also 55 MPH.

QuoteThe biggest culture shock to me when I moved to New England was dealing with the lower speed limits on rural roads. I never understood why it was so low. I always assumed that it was due to antiquated laws that were never updated.

A lot of it also has to do with a road network that is narrow, curvy, hilly, and often unpaved.

As for the OP's question, there are at least US highways that fit the bill:  US 209 and US 302.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: The Nature Boy on July 23, 2014, 09:25:22 PM
I haven't been to the Southern Appalachians (aside from interstate driving) but I wonder how they handle speed limits. Pennsylvania and New York have similarly low limits on their two-lane roads too.

There is a stretch of NH 120 as you head from Lebanon to Hanover (from I-89) that is 4 lanes but signed with a 35 MPH speed limit for part of the route. I have to assume that that's just the town trying to set a speed trap for people who are in route to Dartmouth.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: froggie on July 23, 2014, 09:47:34 PM
QuotePennsylvania and New York have similarly low limits on their two-lane roads too.

New York's state speed limit is 55...a point they note on almost every double-nickel speed limit sign in the state.

Pennsylvania is also typically 55, though they will often sign 2-lane roads lower.

QuoteThere is a stretch of NH 120 as you head from Lebanon to Hanover (from I-89) that is 4 lanes but signed with a 35 MPH speed limit for part of the route. I have to assume that that's just the town trying to set a speed trap for people who are in route to Dartmouth.

That has more to do with it being an undivided road with several traffic signals.  It's also signed 40 MPH.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: DrSmith on July 23, 2014, 09:48:05 PM
US 5 does hit 55 mph on the Charter Oak Bridge and Route 15 joint sections prior to getting to the Berlin Turnpike proper.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: The Nature Boy on July 23, 2014, 10:07:46 PM
Quote from: froggie on July 23, 2014, 09:47:34 PM
QuotePennsylvania and New York have similarly low limits on their two-lane roads too.

New York's state speed limit is 55...a point they note on almost every double-nickel speed limit sign in the state.

Pennsylvania is also typically 55, though they will often sign 2-lane roads lower.

QuoteThere is a stretch of NH 120 as you head from Lebanon to Hanover (from I-89) that is 4 lanes but signed with a 35 MPH speed limit for part of the route. I have to assume that that's just the town trying to set a speed trap for people who are in route to Dartmouth.

That has more to do with it being an undivided road with several traffic signals.  It's also signed 40 MPH.

I could swear I had seen some lower speed limits on the more mountainous NY routes, I fully concede that I could be wrong. I know that the default state speed limit is 55, but that seems to apply more in the flatter regions of the state. The same could be said for Pennsylvania.

And my apologies for being 5 MPH on the speed limit on 120. Slight memory lapse.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: froggie on July 24, 2014, 07:27:10 AM
QuoteI could swear I had seen some lower speed limits on the more mountainous NY routes, I fully concede that I could be wrong.

You might have, depending on what route type you were on.  County routes are often signed at 45.  But I've been on numerous state routes statewide and the default by far is the double-nickel.  It's moreso Pennsylvania that'll drop routes to 45.

No worries on NH 120.  I've had often enough reason to be on it in recent weeks.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: hbelkins on July 24, 2014, 09:45:58 AM
Just a guess here, but I'd say there's probably not anywhere on US 1 in New York with a 55 mph limit. It's all pretty much urban.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: bugo on July 24, 2014, 09:56:48 AM
Quote from: froggie on July 24, 2014, 07:27:10 AM
QuoteI could swear I had seen some lower speed limits on the more mountainous NY routes, I fully concede that I could be wrong.

You might have, depending on what route type you were on.  County routes are often signed at 45.  But I've been on numerous state routes statewide and the default by far is the double-nickel.  It's moreso Pennsylvania that'll drop routes to 45.

Isn't US 30 west of Pittsburgh 45 MPH?  I remember it taking forever to get from US 22 to the WV line, where it turns into a nice expressway.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: jp the roadgeek on July 24, 2014, 12:43:07 PM
In CT, US 6 does hit 65 in CT through Newtown/Southbury and East Hartford/Manchester (both signed with I-84), as well as the Willimantic bypass.  US 7 hits 55 on the Super 7 portions through Norwalk, Danbury, and Brookfield.  US 1 is 65 over the Baldwin Bridge (signed with I-95). US 44 and 202 never go above 50.  US 5 was previously mentioned.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: agentsteel53 on July 24, 2014, 04:59:03 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 24, 2014, 09:45:58 AM
Just a guess here, but I'd say there's probably not anywhere on US 1 in New York with a 55 mph limit. It's all pretty much urban.

what about other incredibly short US routes in a given state?  US-52 in Kentucky?  I can't remember the speed limit on that road as it winds across the river several times.

(I checked US-8 in Michigan: 55mph for its brief segment outside the town limits of Norway.)
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: hbelkins on July 24, 2014, 06:35:51 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 24, 2014, 04:59:03 PM
what about other incredibly short US routes in a given state?  US-52 in Kentucky?  I can't remember the speed limit on that road as it winds across the river several times.

55 mph. It doesn't reach 65 (the West Virginia standard for a four-lane rural route) until it crosses back into WV for the last time.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: vdeane on July 24, 2014, 07:02:21 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on July 23, 2014, 10:07:46 PM
Quote from: froggie on July 23, 2014, 09:47:34 PM
QuotePennsylvania and New York have similarly low limits on their two-lane roads too.

New York's state speed limit is 55...a point they note on almost every double-nickel speed limit sign in the state.

Pennsylvania is also typically 55, though they will often sign 2-lane roads lower.

QuoteThere is a stretch of NH 120 as you head from Lebanon to Hanover (from I-89) that is 4 lanes but signed with a 35 MPH speed limit for part of the route. I have to assume that that's just the town trying to set a speed trap for people who are in route to Dartmouth.

That has more to do with it being an undivided road with several traffic signals.  It's also signed 40 MPH.

I could swear I had seen some lower speed limits on the more mountainous NY routes, I fully concede that I could be wrong. I know that the default state speed limit is 55, but that seems to apply more in the flatter regions of the state. The same could be said for Pennsylvania.

And my apologies for being 5 MPH on the speed limit on 120. Slight memory lapse.
50 is rare on NY state highways, and lower speed limits tend to be motivated more by development and municipal requests/demands than anything else.  I really curvy hilly road will still be 55 here, albeit with curve advisories for (sometimes much) lower speeds so often that you never reach 55.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: roadman65 on July 24, 2014, 07:23:37 PM
I see the post answered my question.  I think all us routes have speed limits of at least 55 mph in some spots.  The reason why I say is that if US 40 in New Jersey did not have the divided parts in Salem County, the maximum speed limit would be only 50 in NJ along its 56 miles of road.

US 7 also is saved by the freeways around Danbury.

Delaware and its default 50 law for 2 lane roads has US 9 over a barrel as its brief four lane section with DE 1 is in an urban area.


BTW, the first two posts.  Very funny. Very funny!
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: Duke87 on July 24, 2014, 11:56:27 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 24, 2014, 09:45:58 AM
Just a guess here, but I'd say there's probably not anywhere on US 1 in New York with a 55 mph limit. It's all pretty much urban.

The highest speed limit on US 1 in New York is 50 MPH, from the NJ/NY line to Webster Ave in The Bronx (where it exits I-95). The rest I don't think ever gets above 35. So yes, great example.


I doubt there is a US highway that never gets above 50 ANYWHERE along its length unless we count bannered routes. Although US 5 comes pretty damn close, it only has a few miles of 55 near Hartford where it's freeway and that's it.

US 7 besides the freeway portions in CT and VT also has a two-lane 55 zone in MA.



With regards to low speed limits on New England roads, some of it simply is inertia and slow thinking. But then, a lot of roads in New England are older, narrower, twistier, and legitimately not fitting of higher limits because they have not been improved to the same standards that roads in other states have.

Connecticut and Rhode Island will only post 55 on freeways, Vermont will only post it on divided highways. Massachusetts and New Hampshire will use it occasionally but sparingly on 2 lane roads. Maine will use it a bit more often.



Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: cl94 on July 25, 2014, 12:17:17 AM
Quote from: vdeane on July 24, 2014, 07:02:21 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on July 23, 2014, 10:07:46 PM
Quote from: froggie on July 23, 2014, 09:47:34 PM
QuotePennsylvania and New York have similarly low limits on their two-lane roads too.

New York's state speed limit is 55...a point they note on almost every double-nickel speed limit sign in the state.

Pennsylvania is also typically 55, though they will often sign 2-lane roads lower.

QuoteThere is a stretch of NH 120 as you head from Lebanon to Hanover (from I-89) that is 4 lanes but signed with a 35 MPH speed limit for part of the route. I have to assume that that's just the town trying to set a speed trap for people who are in route to Dartmouth.

That has more to do with it being an undivided road with several traffic signals.  It's also signed 40 MPH.

I could swear I had seen some lower speed limits on the more mountainous NY routes, I fully concede that I could be wrong. I know that the default state speed limit is 55, but that seems to apply more in the flatter regions of the state. The same could be said for Pennsylvania.

And my apologies for being 5 MPH on the speed limit on 120. Slight memory lapse.
50 is rare on NY state highways, and lower speed limits tend to be motivated more by development and municipal requests/demands than anything else.  I really curvy hilly road will still be 55 here, albeit with curve advisories for (sometimes much) lower speeds so often that you never reach 55.

I've seen 50 quite a bit on Long Island (NY 24, NY 25A, a few others). Often when the road is paralleled by a parkway or expressway. Region 5 loves posting highways at 50 (US 20A between East Aurora and Orchard Park, US 62 south/east of Niagara Falls, US 20 in Orchard Park and Hamburg, Walden Avenue in Lancaster, plus several others I can't place. If a road is curvy to the point that you'd have to slow down under 30, it's posted at 40 or 45 with few exceptions (NY 240 and US 62, I'm talking to you). Inside Erie County, in particular, speed limits are often 10-15 lower than they would be if engineering was the only concern (and the speed most people drive), considered by many to be a moneymaking scheme for the county cops. Heck, a road not too far from me had its limit lowered by 10 solely to increase police revenue.

The lower speeds in the mountains is somewhat accurate. In the Catskills especially, several state routes are county maintained and the counties like keeping speeds down. There are reduced speed limits in sections of the southeastern Adirondacks, mainly due to tourist activity. US 9 and NY 9N are pretty slow in southern Warren County. Speed limits are also kept down in the mountainous regions of the Hudson Valley due to the large population. Again, Region 5 loves keeping it down, even in the rural, hilly southern half of the region.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: hbelkins on July 25, 2014, 11:30:03 AM
Quote from: Duke87 on July 24, 2014, 11:56:27 PM
With regards to low speed limits on New England roads, some of it simply is inertia and slow thinking. But then, a lot of roads in New England are older, narrower, twistier, and legitimately not fitting of higher limits because they have not been improved to the same standards that roads in other states have.

The speed limit on US 62 in eastern Oklahoma is 65 mph, and sections of that road (I've driven it from Muskogee east to the Arkansas state line) are much more mountainous than a lot of the US routes I've driven in New England.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: bugo on July 25, 2014, 11:52:20 AM
The speed limit on the Talimena Drive (OK 1) is 65, and there are many very sharp curves that can only be taken at low speeds.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: agentsteel53 on July 25, 2014, 12:22:30 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on July 24, 2014, 11:56:27 PM
I doubt there is a US highway that never gets above 50 ANYWHERE along its length unless we count bannered routes.

I checked former US 630.  it's 55 in Oregon.  dang!
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: signalman on July 25, 2014, 05:27:47 PM
US 46 never gets higher than 50.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: froggie on July 25, 2014, 05:57:07 PM
QuoteConnecticut and Rhode Island will only post 55 on freeways, Vermont will only post it on limited-access highways.

FTFY...
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: Kacie Jane on July 25, 2014, 08:04:42 PM
Quote from: signalman on July 25, 2014, 05:27:47 PM
US 46 never gets higher than 50.

I think this is false, even if only on a technicality. It's concurrent with I-95 to the state line.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: signalman on July 25, 2014, 08:11:00 PM
You're right,I forgot about that.  I was too quick to point out what seemed like a no brainer.  Although, to be fair, one never gets to go above 55 going north (east) approaching the GWB tolls
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: Road Hog on July 25, 2014, 08:27:29 PM
At least back east the typical drives are nowhere near as long as they would be in Texas, where the next town over might be 30 miles away.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: roadman65 on July 26, 2014, 05:45:54 AM
Quote from: signalman on July 25, 2014, 05:27:47 PM
US 46 never gets higher than 50.
The Jersey Freeway portion through Little Falls and Clifton does.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: Mr. Matté on July 26, 2014, 08:16:28 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 26, 2014, 05:45:54 AM
Quote from: signalman on July 25, 2014, 05:27:47 PM
US 46 never gets higher than 50.
The Jersey Freeway portion through Little Falls and Clifton does.

[citation needed]


Quote from: Kacie Jane on July 25, 2014, 08:04:42 PM
Quote from: signalman on July 25, 2014, 05:27:47 PM
US 46 never gets higher than 50.
I think this is false, even if only on a technicality. It's concurrent with I-95 to the state line.

Though the SLDs say otherwise, checking the GSV shows 45 signs on the portion between the I-95 merge and where it cuts off due to Port Authority paranoia.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: signalman on July 26, 2014, 10:31:23 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 26, 2014, 05:45:54 AM
Quote from: signalman on July 25, 2014, 05:27:47 PM
US 46 never gets higher than 50.
The Jersey Freeway portion through Little Falls and Clifton does.
No.  The signed limit through that section is 50.  Although, actual traffic speeds are closer to 60 when it isn't congested.
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: Kacie Jane on July 26, 2014, 12:33:06 PM
Quote from: Mr. Matté on July 26, 2014, 08:16:28 AM
Quote from: Kacie Jane on July 25, 2014, 08:04:42 PM
Quote from: signalman on July 25, 2014, 05:27:47 PM
US 46 never gets higher than 50.
I think this is false, even if only on a technicality. It's concurrent with I-95 to the state line.

Though the SLDs say otherwise, checking the GSV shows 45 signs on the portion between the I-95 merge and where it cuts off due to Port Authority paranoia.

Huh.  We may dodge a bullet on that one then.  My apologies.  I knew the bridge itself was 45, but I figured there would still be a section of 55 before you got there. :P
Title: Re: US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater
Post by: signalman on July 26, 2014, 12:38:16 PM
Quote from: Kacie Jane on July 26, 2014, 12:33:06 PM
Quote from: Mr. Matté on July 26, 2014, 08:16:28 AM
Quote from: Kacie Jane on July 25, 2014, 08:04:42 PM
Quote from: signalman on July 25, 2014, 05:27:47 PM
US 46 never gets higher than 50.
I think this is false, even if only on a technicality. It's concurrent with I-95 to the state line.

Though the SLDs say otherwise, checking the GSV shows 45 signs on the portion between the I-95 merge and where it cuts off due to Port Authority paranoia.

Huh.  We may dodge a bullet on that one then.  My apologies.  I knew the bridge itself was 45, but I figured there would still be a section of 55 before you got there. :P
I was quick to agree with you on your post. I honestly don't remember the speed limit being 45 through that section. Although I admit that I don't go that far east regularly. It's been several years since I've been down there.