60-mph divided highways in NC

Evidently, NCDOT has quietly decided to start signing certain highways with 60-mph speed limits rather than the typical 55 mph. Problem is, no one seems interested in admitting what highways are now signed with the higher limit.

The roads being considered for the higher limit are restricted-access, which means they don't have driveways coming off the sides but do have surface intersections rather than full interchanges. As of right now, the only roads I know of that are signed with the higher limit are NC 11 between Kinston and Winterville and US 17 from Elizabeth City to the Virginia state line. Beyond those, rumor has it that there are up to ten other highways that are eligible for the higher limits, but I haven't seen what they are or if they are signed with the new limits. One road that could have the higher limit, the NC 24/903 bypass of Kenansville in Duplin County, is still signed at 55 as of this past weekend.

Interestingly, freeway limits aren't being touched, even for 55-mph bypasses like the US 70 New Bern bypass and the US 17/NC 24 Jacksonville bypass -- at least, not yet.

So does anyone else know where the higher limits are either in place or planned to be put in?

Comments

Doug said…

I have seen similar arrangements for a 60 mph speed limit in Virginia, particularly along US 29. Can't speak so much for North Carolina, unless I go through my photos and spot a rogue 60 mph speed limit sign.

11:17 PM

Anonymous said…

WV has had 60MPH expressways since the NMSL repeal.

11:21 PM

Anonymous said…

It is now 60 mph on US 17 on the Shallotte bypass .

And 60 mph on US 74 around Laurinburg up to Maxton .

It is about time as much as 90 % of rural NC highways could be safely raised to 65-70 mph without issue . It is just plain stupid to continue to have the 100 % ignored 55 mph unless otherwise posted rule . This outdated law is from the 1940s to be still in effect on NC roads is just silly .

Our roads are safer , our cars are safer it is about time that this is taken into account when setting our posted speed limits across NC .

12:00 AM

Hawaii Route 8930

Hawaii Route 8930 is a 2.5-mile State Highway on the Island of O'hau. Hawaii Route 8930 is aligned over Kualakai Parkway over the course of its entire alignment south from Interstate H-1 to Kapolei Parkway. Hawaii Route 8930 is one of the newest Hawaii Routes only having been completed during 2010. This page is part of the Gribblenation O'ahu Highways page. All Gribblenation and Roadwaywiz media related to the highway system of O'ahu can be found at the link below: https://www.gribblenation.org/p/gribblenation-oahu-highways-page.html Part 1; the history of Hawaii Route 8930 The history of Hawaii Route 8930 is brief given it is a modern facility. Hawaii Route 8930 and what was known as "North-South Road" were built to facilitate the developing areas of Kapolei on western O'ahu. According to hawaiihighways.com the first stage of Hawaii Route 8930 was completed from Kapolei Parkway north to Farrington Highway as a four-lane highway during November...

Madera County Road 607 and the Stockton-Los Angeles Road

Madera County Road 607 is an approximately seven-mile rural unsurfaced highway which spans from Road 600 near Raymond west to Road 29. Road 607 west from Raymond Road Cemetery (established in 1905) is part of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road corridor surveyed in 1853. The corridor lies in the gap between Fresno Crossing at the Fresno River west to Newton's Crossing at the Chowchilla River. The Buchanan Copper Mine would be along what is now Road 607 in the namesake Buchanan Hollow during July 1863. The Buchanan Mine is thought to have once had a population of between 1,000-1,500 residents by the early 1870s. Copper prices would decline in the decade after the Civil War and much of the activity at Buchanan shifted towards cattle ranching. The last businesses in the community would shutter during World War II and it is now a true ghost town. Part 1; the history of Madera County Road 607 and the Stockton-Los Angeles Road What is now Road 607 was a component of the larger Sto...

Old NC 10 - The Central Highway: Old Fort to Black Mountain through the Royal Gorge

A unique way of tracing the remnants of the Central Highway is through the mountainous terrain of Eastern Buncombe and Western McDowell Counties. From the east on US 70, you reach the base of Blue Ridge Mountains at the town of Old Fort. Old Fort is a tiny rail town that the old Central Highway and now US 70 goes through. The Central Highway can be followed via a right onto Mill Creek Road from US 70. Follow the highway as it takes you closer to the mountains. When Mill Creek Road bears right to head towards Andrews Geyser stay straight until the road ends at a gate. The nearby Piney Grove Church can be used for parking. At this point, the old Central Highway began a 3.5 mile climb of the mountain to Swannanoa Gap. NC 10 and later US 70 travelers followed this road for over 30 years until a new and modern four lane US 70 was built to the south. This same four lane road would eventually become Interstate 40. The Centra...