US routes that never make it to 55 mph or greater

[roadman65]

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.

[agentsteel53]

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.

[Billy F 1988]

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.

[vdeane]

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.

[The Nature Boy]

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?

[vdeane]

Pretty sure that's a no, but I've never driven it.

[shadyjay]

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

[SSOWorld]

Very odd that the Northeast and Mid-atlantic has some roads that are not above 50.  Connecticut anyone?

[The Nature Boy]

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.

[froggie]

I 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.

Do the non-freeway portions get to 55?

(referring to US 4 VT)

No.

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.

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.

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).

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

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.

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.

[The Nature Boy]

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.

[froggie]

Pennsylvania 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.

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.

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

[DrSmith]

US 5 does hit 55 mph on the Charter Oak Bridge and Route 15 joint sections prior to getting to the Berlin Turnpike proper.

[The Nature Boy]

Pennsylvania 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.

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.

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.

[froggie]

I 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.

[hbelkins]

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.

[bugo]

I 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.

[jp the roadgeek]

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.

[agentsteel53]

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.)

[hbelkins]

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.

[vdeane]

Pennsylvania 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.

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.

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.

[roadman65]

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!

[Duke87]

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.

[cl94]

Pennsylvania 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.

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.

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.

[hbelkins]

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.