The speed limit is going up on additional stretches of highway in the state, according to PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
Starting Tuesday, crews will begin installing new 70 mph signs on the roads affected.
PennDOT roadways that are being posted with the new limit over the next few days (including current pilot areas) are:
- I-79 from I-90 in Erie County south to a point just north of the PA 228 interchange in Butler County (97 miles)
- I-79 from I-70 in Washington County south to the West Virginia border (33 miles)
- I-80 from the Ohio State border east to a point near mile marker 190 in Clinton County (190 miles)
- I-80 from a point near mile marker 195 in Union County to a point near mile marker 247 in Columbia County (52 miles)
- US 15 from the interchange with PA 14 in Lycoming County north to the New York State line (49 miles)
- I-99 from Exit No. 68 in Centre County south to a point near mile marker 34 in Blair County (34 miles)
- I-99 from Exit No. 28 in Blair County south to mile marker 0 (PA Turnpike) in Bedford County (28 miles)
- I-380 from I-84 in Lackawanna County south to Exit No. 3 in Monroe County (21 miles)
Sections of the Turnpike that are currently marked for 65 mph will be changed to 70 mph, starting Tuesday. Areas that are marked as 55 mph will stay at 55 mph.
Drivers now have about 1,000 miles of roadway at 70 mph, according to state officials.
"It’s a good idea because Ohio, Indiana, all those other states I travel through they all have speed limits of 70-75. 65 is too slow on an interstate," said Thomas Stombaugh of Dickson City.
It was nearly two years ago when 70 mph signs went up along Interstate 380 as a test to see if this speed could be a change for the future.
"Pilot areas we saw very minimal increases in overall speed and nothing in the way of indicating it was a problem increasing to 70 mph," PennDOT secretary Leslie Richards said.
Part of Interstate 380 has been 70 miles per hour since 2014. Some drivers say they're okay with it. Others say 70 is just too fast.
"I think it's fine. They're doing it now, you know, so it's just going to be no tickets really," said Ken Legg of Daleville.
"They go faster here than they do at the Pocono racetrack at Long Pond. It hasn't helped anything," another driver said.
According to PennDOT, the speed change is only happening in areas that do not have high crash histories, heavy traffic, and weaving traffic.
"It’s harder to stop. It's harder to react. If you're unintentive, your mistakes are magnified at that speed. That's what it is," said Ron Bianchi of Scranton.
According to PennDOT officials, workers started changing speed signs from 65 to 70 Monday and plan to do it throughout the week. They want drivers to know, until you see new signs posted on the highway -- the speed limit is still 65.
