Speed Limits To Be Raised On Two Sections Of I-90

Drivers passing through the Idaho Panhandle soon will be allowed to drive faster on Interstate 90.

The Idaho Transportation Board on Thursday voted to raise the speed limit along two sections of the interstate.

Starting in May, drivers will be able to zip along at 70 mph from the Washington state line to Coeur d’Alene. They can drive 75 mph from the Rose Lake junction to Osburn.

“What you’ll find now is that the speed limits will reflect what people were more or less driving anyway,” said Barbara Babic, North Idaho spokeswoman for the Idaho Transportation Department.

But it also means motorists traveling from Washington to Montana will pass through six different speed zones in just 73 miles.

Although police say they will strictly enforce the speed limits, they are concerned that drivers will be confused by passing through so many speed zones in such a short space.

In addition to I-90, the Transportation Board on Thursday voted to raise the speed limit to 75 mph on most of Idaho’s 570-mile interstate system.

The board also decided to raise speed limits to 65 mph on about 600 miles of other state and U.S. highways. U.S. 95 from Lapwai to 12 miles north of Lewiston was part of the highway system raised to 65 mph.

The changes were based on traffic studies conducted over the past several months.

Traffic engineers are continuing to study the rest of Idaho’s highway system - including U.S. 95 in North Idaho.

ITD officials expect to have the interstate signs changed by May 3.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: How fast?

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This sidebar appeared with the story: WHAT’S UP? Thursday’s changes do not go into effect until May 1. And until the new signs go up, officials say the posted speed limits will be enforced