Raising The Limit Along 95 State May Boost Speed For Highway

Three sections of U.S. Highway 95 in North Idaho would see speed limits rise to 65 mph, and four more would go to 60 mph, under recommendations to be considered Friday by the Idaho Transportation Board.

The new speed limits are part of a package of higher limits recommended for roads throughout the state.

They’re possible because of legislation passed this year that allowed Idaho’s top speed limits to rise to 75 mph on freeways and 65 mph on two-lane highways.

“They’re based on engineering studies,” said transportation department spokesman Jeff Stratten.

“Safety is the overriding criteria.”

The recommendations for Highway 95 are:

65 mph on the 12-mile stretch from Tensed to Plummer.

65 mph from the Kootenai/ Bonner county line to 5-1/2 miles south of Sandpoint. That’s a 17-mile stretch.

65 mph from the Bonner/ Boundary county line to 1 mile south of Bonners Ferry, a 13-mile stretch.

60 mph on the 28-mile stretch from the junction of U.S. Highway 2 to half a mile south of the Canadian border.

60 mph from Worley to Coeur d’Alene, 26 miles.

60 mph on the 34 miles from Moscow to DeSmet.

60 mph on the 20 miles from the top of Lewiston Hill to Moscow.

There also are recommendations for other roads, including an increase to 65 mph on state Highway 41 from Rathdrum to Spirit Lake.

The Transportation Board meeting starts at 1 p.m. Friday in Boise.

If the increases are approved, they won’t go into effect until signs are posted on the roads.

That could take up to a month, Stratten said.

, DataTimes