Lowest speed limit on an Interstate?

[empirestate]

According to Wikipedia, it's 40 MPH.  But I swear I've seen pictures of lower speed limits on Interstates.  What is it?

Well, here's one of those 40mph's, I-279 @ it's Southern start.

I-490 through downtown Rochester has long been known for its 40mph limit as well, which survived the recent reconstruction:
https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=43.152335,-77.616477&spn=0.009126,0.019205&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=43.152403,-77.61676&panoid=HcKd4B8O7DdeImg9fnnMiw&cbp=12,112.34,,1,2.87

This stretch is notable since it's decidedly not on a ramp (like I-395, even though it carries the number continuity) or at a terminus, nor associated with a bridge, tunnel, or any single specific curve. It's purely a mainline, through-route, fixed regulatory speed limit. It's probably the one Wikipedia has in mind.

[Kacie Jane]

According to Wikipedia, it's 40 MPH.  But I swear I've seen pictures of lower speed limits on Interstates.  What is it?

An enigma.

To be fair, I can't find where on Wikipedia it says this, unless Bugo is misinterpreting this section.  It says, "In some areas, speed limits on Interstates can be significantly lower in areas where they traverse significantly hazardous areas," then lists a couple of examples, including I-68 in MD at 40 mph, but doesn't actually specify that those examples are the extremes.

[roadman65]

The Holland Tunnel has a posted speed limit of 35 mph.  That still is part of I-78.
Then the NJ Turnpike sometimes in special conditions has had it posted at 35mph.

Then the I-295 Southbound, that was already posted here, is regulatory and not advisory as it has normal speed limit signs of 35 mph after the I-76 ramp.

Also you do have to count when an interstate enters a ramp inside an interchange.  Whether its I-83 at the Eisenhower Interchange in Harrisburg or I-55 navigating through Memphis at Crump Boulevard cloverleaf, it still counts as a mainline.

[vdeane]

According to Wikipedia, it's 40 MPH.  But I swear I've seen pictures of lower speed limits on Interstates.  What is it?

Well, here's one of those 40mph's, I-279 @ it's Southern start.

I-490 through downtown Rochester has long been known for its 40mph limit as well, which survived the recent reconstruction:
https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=43.152335,-77.616477&spn=0.009126,0.019205&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=43.152403,-77.61676&panoid=HcKd4B8O7DdeImg9fnnMiw&cbp=12,112.34,,1,2.87

This stretch is notable since it's decidedly not on a ramp (like I-395, even though it carries the number continuity) or at a terminus, nor associated with a bridge, tunnel, or any single specific curve. It's purely a mainline, through-route, fixed regulatory speed limit. It's probably the one Wikipedia has in mind.

The curves on the Inner Loop need the 40mph limit though... I wonder if NYSDOT just decided to make everything 40 rather than some other limit between 40 and 55 (probably 45, since that's what the Inner Loop has) in between.

[empirestate]

The curves on the Inner Loop need the 40mph limit though... I wonder if NYSDOT just decided to make everything 40 rather than some other limit between 40 and 55 (probably 45, since that's what the Inner Loop has) in between.

It is because of the curves, actually the ones coming into the loop from the west and (particularly) the east; on the loop itself, I-490 actually traverses the least curvy section of it. (That results in a convenient speed trap location, as motorists are tempted to speed up on the straight, wide section between exits 13 and 15.) I would not be surprised if this speed limit was grandfathered in from the pre-interstate Inner Loop era.

I do think it's worth making a distinction between the lowest speed limit on a mainline segment versus those associated with ramps, tunnels etc. And by mainline, I don't mean the path that the route number follows...a ramp is still a ramp and is a different animal than a regular piece of freeway. The curves on I-490 a right on the mainline, and there's a fair stretch of non-curvy freeway still marked at 40 mph in between, so to me that's more noteworthy than an Interstate that happens to pass through an interchange where one of the ramps has a low posted speed limit.

[BamaZeus]

Before the reconstruction of the infamous "S" curve in Laurel, MS, the speed limit on I-59 was 40mph.

[SSOWorld]

If I recall the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel has either a 25 or 35 mph limit.  I'll have to check that later today.

[empirestate]

If I recall the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel has either a 25 or 35 mph limit.  I'll have to check that later today.

Sorry, you won't be able to. You'll have to settle for checking out the Hugh L. Carey tunnel.

[Alps]

If I recall the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel has either a 25 or 35 mph limit.  I'll have to check that later today.

Good call. Lincoln Tunnel is 35 MPH and had been I-495. Holland Tunnel is either 25 or 35 and is still I-78. Pay some more and check that one out too

[mjb2002]

I've seen a speed limit of 35 on Interstate 26 in the Charleston City Limits. In 2001, it was for the last 4 miles of the Interstate, now it is only for the easternmost mile of it.

http://goo.gl/maps/yiLnd

[Roadsguy]

If I-78 was built as planned to blast through Phillipsburg, NJ, then the horribly tight curve on what is now plain ol' 22 would be a 25 mph speed limit for 78. (In fact, it was 78 once.)

[SSOWorld]

If I recall the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel has either a 25 or 35 mph limit.  I'll have to check that later today.

Sorry, you won't be able to. You'll have to settle for checking out the Hugh L. Carey tunnel.

Still the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to me.

Don't worry Steve.  I'll be checking those out sometime in the very near future

[Alps]

If I recall the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel has either a 25 or 35 mph limit.  I'll have to check that later today.

Sorry, you won't be able to. You'll have to settle for checking out the Hugh L. Carey tunnel.

Still the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to me.

Don't worry Steve.  I'll be checking those out sometime in the very near future

Are you there now? Seek shelter in a subway tunnel.

[SSOWorld]

If I recall the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel has either a 25 or 35 mph limit.  I'll have to check that later today.

Sorry, you won't be able to. You'll have to settle for checking out the Hugh L. Carey tunnel.

Still the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to me.

Don't worry Steve.  I'll be checking those out sometime in the very near future

Are you there now? Seek shelter in a subway tunnel.

not THAT near - and you were hopin weren't you >-D

[Kacie Jane]

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50134146n

This video that was posted in the Sandy Off-Topic thread clearly shows Speed Limit 25 signs for the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.

[ShawnP]

I-68 thru Cumberland, Maryland is 40MPH if I remember right. It is needed with no shoulders and a tight turn.

[tdindy88]

I'd imagine that the speed inside the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel depends on how fast your boat is these days.

[mgk920]

I'd imagine that the speed inside the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel depends on how fast your boat is these days.

Boat?

Try submarine.  The tunnel is flooded up to sea level.



Mike

[Some_Person]

This is technically the interstate where this is posted, but I'm not sure if this should count: http://goo.gl/maps/uQUzs

[jeffandnicole]

While it's approaching a toll booth, the Delaware Memorial Bridge (I-295 South) has a posted limit of 20 mph.  While that's insanely too low to begin with, about 3/4 mile from the toll plaza, the limit is reduced to 35 mph.  About 1/3 of a mile prior to the toll plaza, the limit is then reduced to 20 mph.  Even school zones in Delaware don't offer this kind of buffer around their schools (they are signed at 20 mph just in the immediate area of the school, not a 1/3 of a mile prior to the school!!!).

Compare that to the toll plaza one passes on the NJ Turnpike just a few miles prior, where the limit is never reduced approaching the cash lanes of the toll plaza.

[robbones]

I 70 in Breezewood, Pennsylvania IIRC the speed limit drops to 30 mph before using the surface street. Are there any others that comes close? It can't be construction related.

Merged with topic NE2 pointed out - please search to avoid duplicates.  It is very rare that construction speed limits are lower than limits such as what you pointed out. -sso

[NE2]

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=7904

-- EDIT nevermind - merging... --sso

[Zeffy]

I 70 in Breezewood, Pennsylvania IIRC the speed limit drops to 30 mph before using the surface street. Are there any others that comes close? It can't be construction related.

I-78 in Jersey City, NJ has to be somewhat similar to this, being that it uses surface streets before the Holland Tunnel - however, I can't actually find a single speed limit sign on the stretch.

[Pete from Boston]

I 70 in Breezewood, Pennsylvania IIRC the speed limit drops to 30 mph before using the surface street. Are there any others that comes close? It can't be construction related.

I-78 in Jersey City, NJ has to be somewhat similar to this, being that it uses surface streets before the Holland Tunnel - however, I can't actually find a single speed limit sign on the stretch.

Most of the time the tacit speed limit is about 15 there anyway.

[vdeane]

Aside from Thruway toll plazas (which have a 5 mph speed limit on many E-ZPass lanes), the lowest in NY is I-190 at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge with a statutory limit of 15 mph.