Advertisement State increases speed limits on highways Speed limits increase on sections of I-295, I-95 Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Mainers will be able to driver faster on parts of Maine's highways beginning Monday.Department of Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt announced speed limits will increase on sections of Interstates 295 and 95.States with the fastest speed limitsMaine DOT said it has done several extensive traffic studies on the issue and found 85 percent of drivers were speeding."The people are driving not at that posted speed, but at the speed at which we changed the speed limit to. It's the safest speed to post is that 85th percentile. That's why we did it," said Bernhardt.Maine State Police, who will enforce the new speed limits said the goal is to make sure drivers are keeping up with the flow of traffic."We've all been in traffic before where there's one slow person, particularly on a two lane highway and you have to wait to pass them in a safe place and traffic backs up. You should really try to go with the flow of traffic," said Maine State Police Col. Robert Williams.The Legislature approved a bill last year that allows the transportation chief to raise the speed limit to 75 mph. The speed limit for most of the interstate was 65.Bernhardt said the decision to increase the speed limit is about safety."It's found through studies that the closer you get that comfort level, the safer the road is," said Bernardt.The speed limit on I-295 from just north of Tukey's Bridge in Portland to mile 51 in West Gardiner will increase from 65 to 70 mph.The speed limit on the Maine Turnpike connector will increase from 50 to 55 mph.The speed limit on the Scarborough connector will increase from 55 to 60 mph.The speed limit on Interstate 195 in Saco will increase from 55 to 60 mph.The speed limit on Route 1 from Route 196 to Bath will increase from 55 to 60 mph.However, speed limit on I-295 through Portland and South Portland will not change. The speed limit from Tukey's Bridge to the Fore River will remain 50 mph. The speed limit from the Fore River to the Maine Turnpike will remain 55 mph.On I-95, the speed limit will remain unchanged through the Augusta Area. From mile 114 to mile 126, the speed limit will increase to 70 mph.Through the Waterville area the speed limit will remain 65 mph.From mile 134 to mile 181 in Bangor the speed limit will be 70 mph.The speed limit from mile 181 to mile 188 in Bangor will increase from 55 mph to 60 mph.From mile 188 to Old Town, the speed limit will increase to 70 mph. After Old Town, the speed limit will remain 75 mph.On I-395 until Exit 4, the speed limit will increase from 55 to 60 mph. From Exit 4 to the Route 1A ramp, the speed limit will increase to 65 mph.This isn't the first time recently that speed limits on Maine highways have increased. The speed limit on I-95 from Old Town to Houlton is 75 mph.