The state assembly Wednesday night gave final legislative approval to a bill raising the speed limit to 70 miles an hour on certain Wisconsin roads.
“We’re still concerned about what the safety impact is gonna be, but at the same time we’re not necessarily surprised that this did pass this year,” said Nick Jarmusz of Wisconsin AAA. “This has really been a national trend toward pushing speed limits higher and higher.”
The amended bill would allow the Department of Transportation to increase speeds from 65 to 70 mph on the interstate system, freeways that have no at-grade crossings, and segments of other roads that are divided but have no at-grade crossings,” according to Senate Transportation Committee Chair Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon). That means the speed limit won’t be increased on roads with cross traffic.
The auto club was hoping for an amendment that would create a speed differential, “at least so that trucks would still be at 65 miles an hour.” Jarmusz said,” Michigan has that provision and has seen fewer trucks involved in fatal crashes.”
The bill’s author Representative Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc) noted Wisconsin is currently the only state in the Midwest with a 65 mile per hour maximum speed limit for all roadways. “This legislation will align the state’s speed limit with that of neighboring states and most of the country.”
The bill now is on Governor Walker’s desk and he’s expected to sign it.
John Colbert, WIBA
