Crews were out Tuesday, July 10, to change many Kentucky interstate and parkway speed-limit signs from 65 mph to 70 mph, Gov. Ernie Fletcher announced. The state Transportation Cabinet hoped to change the signs as quickly as possible to minimize confusion; the goal was to do it in one day.
The change affects almost every interstate in Kentucky, with the exception of the congested loops around Louisville and Covington, and almost every parkway, with the exception of the mountainous ones in the east. In March, Fletcher signed Senate Bill 83, which allows for increased speed limits on rural interstates and parkways throughout the state, safety considerations permitting.
“After thoroughly reviewing the engineering safety studies, we have made the decision to increase the speed limit to 70 mph on these specified rural interstates and parkways,” says state Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert. “We believe this bill will facilitate the mobility of people and products, which is another plus for Kentucky’s economy.”
At Nighbert’s suggestion, the change was postponed until after the heavily traveled July Fourth holiday.
