The Minnesota Department of Transportation is alerting drivers to speed limit increases on two different Northland highways - effective sometime this week.  The new speed limits will take effect on the following highways as soon as the signs are posted:

  • Highway 217 - between Littlefork and Ray:  The speed limit will increase from 55 to 60 mph.
  • highway 286 - between Highway 6 and Marcell:  The speed limit will increase from 55 to 60 mph.

According to MNDOT, the increases stem from a traffic and engineering study that was performed on those roadways.  The study looked at past crash rates, physical attributes of the highway (such as shoulder widths and access points), and analyzed current driving speeds.  The study itself originated with a directive from the Minnesota Legislature back in 2014 that directed MNDOT to evaluate it's two-lane, two-way 55 mph highways to see whether speed limits could be safely increased.  The statewide study will be complete next year in 2019.

 

 

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