Speed Limit on the Express/Through/Bigger road is SLOWER than the local road

[ElishaGOtis]

I'm looking for cases where a larger or more through road has a lower speed limit than an adjacent more local road. Such could be an express lane having a lower speed limit than the general purpose lanes, a freeway having a lower speed limit than the frontage roads, a bypass having a lower speed limit than the Main Street of a town, or similar.

I have come across one too many of these examples to let this be ignored. I'm actually surprised I found as many as I did. If this is a repeat thread please merge lol 😂

Express Lane < GP Lane Speed Limit:
- I-75/575 Northwest Corridor (EL 55-65, GP 65-70)
- I-45 & US-290 Houston (EL 45-60, GP 60-65)
- I-75 Miami Lakes, albeit a short distance (EL 50-55, GP 70)
- I-395 Washington DC Bridges (EL 35, GP 40-45)

Through/Freeway < Frontage Rd Speed Limit:
- (since removed) I-10 West El Paso (Fwy 45, Frontage 55)
- MIA Cargo Viaduct Miami (Expwy 35, Local/Lower 40-45)

Express Lane < Frontage Road (but still less than Fwy)
- I-69/US-59 Houston (EL 45, GP 65, Frontage 45-55)

[doorknob60]

This is a little different, but fits with the spirit of the thread I think.

The Columbia River Gorge on the OR/WA border, has a freeway (I-84) on the Oregon side and a 2 lane highway (WA-14) on the Washington side. For most of my life, the speed limit on I-84 was 65 for cars and 55 for trucks. East of US-97, the speed limit on WA-14 is 65 for cars and 60 for trucks. So for a very long time, the speed limit was the same for cars on the freeway and the 2-laner, and actually faster for trucks.

Fortunately (IMO), this is no longer the case. Oregon has increased I-84 east of The Dalles to 70 for cars and 65 for trucks, so the speed limit there is higher across the board (as it should be). Oregon has also increased most 65/55 zones with 65/60, so trucks can go 60 in those now, matching Washington's truck limit.

[webny99]

I-190 and NY 265 are adjacent going past the Niagara Power Plant, and have this bizarre combination due to I-190 NB approaching the border:

I-190 SB: 65 mph
I-190 NB: 45 mph
NY 265: 55 mph

Perhaps not exactly what the OP was looking for but an odd one nonetheless.

[ElishaGOtis]

I-190 and NY 265 are adjacent going past the Niagara Power Plant, and have this bizarre combination due to I-190 NB approaching the border:

I-190 SB: 65 mph
I-190 NB: 45 mph
NY 265: 55 mph

Perhaps not exactly what the OP was looking for but an odd one nonetheless.

Exactly what I'm looking for! Thank you 

[vdeane]

I-190 and NY 265 are adjacent going past the Niagara Power Plant, and have this bizarre combination due to I-190 NB approaching the border:

I-190 SB: 65 mph
I-190 NB: 45 mph
NY 265: 55 mph

Perhaps not exactly what the OP was looking for but an odd one nonetheless.

Incidentally, what is with the trend of dropping limits very far in advance of borders/other things?  I-190 drops to 45 two miles before the border!  And that's not the only place in the state where similar things happen.  I-81 drops to 40 a whole mile before both the border and the Thousand Islands Bridge (both of which used to be 55 until much closer).  And I-781 drops to 45 close to half a mile before both ends.  Thankfully I-87 hasn't hopped on the trend; it still drops to 55 for the approach and only becomes 40 when you're at the actual border area.

[ElishaGOtis]

I-190 and NY 265 are adjacent going past the Niagara Power Plant, and have this bizarre combination due to I-190 NB approaching the border:

I-190 SB: 65 mph
I-190 NB: 45 mph
NY 265: 55 mph

Perhaps not exactly what the OP was looking for but an odd one nonetheless.

Incidentally, what is with the trend of dropping limits very far in advance of borders/other things?  I-190 drops to 45 two miles before the border!  And that's not the only place in the state where similar things happen.  I-81 drops to 40 a whole mile before both the border and the Thousand Islands Bridge (both of which used to be 55 until much closer).  And I-781 drops to 45 close to half a mile before both ends.  Thankfully I-87 hasn't hopped on the trend; it still drops to 55 for the approach and only becomes 40 when you're at the actual border area.

Maybe they're expecting longer lines at the border? Or they're doing the Florida thing where they drop speed limits first then post all the signs about the border?

(for context, Florida has a new standard that says in a work zone that has a continuous speed drop, the speed drop has to be placed ahead of the ROAD WORK 1 MI and all following signs. Why they do this is beyond me...)

[vdeane]

for context, Florida has a new standard that says in a work zone that has a continuous speed drop, the speed drop has to be placed ahead of the ROAD WORK 1 MI and all following signs. Why they do this is beyond me...

Yikes.  That sounds like a good way to encourage people to speed through work zones!  Meanwhile, the Thruway is the opposite extreme, with the reduced limit often not signed until the lane shift begins.

[ElishaGOtis]

for context, Florida has a new standard that says in a work zone that has a continuous speed drop, the speed drop has to be placed ahead of the ROAD WORK 1 MI and all following signs. Why they do this is beyond me...

Yikes.  That sounds like a good way to encourage people to speed through work zones!  Meanwhile, the Thruway is the opposite extreme, with the reduced limit often not signed until the lane shift begins.

I would be genuinely unsurprised if Florida does the advanced signage SOLELY because New York waits until the true beginning of the work zone.  

Ok in all seriousness, I'll have to ask around to see why the new standard was adopted, but my guesses are either a) because people kept claiming they didn't see the signs, b) to give police a 1+mi speed enforcement buffer before the workers (good idea in theory, just not 1-5 miles out  ), c) in case they anticipate extra traffic (which can be better suited with a Smart Work Zone VSL imho...), or a combination of the above. Funny enough, if a VSL or "motorist awareness system" is used, the sequence of signs required does not include the speed drop being first. All that said, it usually still is the first sign even if not required.

I think.