CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WAND) – An interstate’s speed limit will be reduced in a push to crack down on crashes.
The Illinois Department of Transportation says the speed limit on Interstate 74 from west of Interstate 57 to east of Cunningham Avenue will drop to 60 mph from a past limit of 70 mph starting Friday. The way cars interact at high speeds was a decision that led to the change.
“Speed is a significant factor in the severity of every crash, and the interaction between higher-speed through traffic on an interstate with lower-speed traffic entering or exiting at interchanges was shown to be an issue,” Champaign Public Works said in a press release. “Reducing the speed limit of through traffic to closer to that of traffic from interchanges gives drivers more time to react, thereby reducing the severity of a crash or avoiding one altogether.”
IDOT went through a speed study before reaching the decision to make a change. Its leaders say the study showed I-57’s speed limit can stay at 70 mph.
The department says it “routinely reviews” whether it can make low-cost safety improvements to Illinois roads.
