Bill to hike speed limit in some areas of Utah freeways moving forward

By Jasen Lee, Deseret News

Published: Thursday, Jan. 31 2013 4:50 p.m. MST

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Motorists drive along an 80 mph section of I-15 south of Nephi Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Summary

A bill to increase the speed drivers can travel on some areas of Utah freeways passed unanimously Thursday in a state legislative committee.

SALT LAKE CITY — A bill to increase the speed drivers can travel on some areas of Utah freeways passed unanimously Thursday in a state legislative committee.

HB83, sponsored by Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, would expand the portion of I-15 where the Utah Department of Transportation may establish a posted speed limit that exceeds 75 mph and would add portions of I-80 and I-84 as well.

Areas of consideration on I-15 include Santaquin to St. George and Brigham City to the Idaho border. Also under review is I-84 from Tremonton to the Idaho border, along with Grantsville to Wendover on I-80.

The House Transportation Committee unanimously supported the measure, which now moves forward for consideration by the full House.

— Jasen Lee

Twitter: JasenLee1

Featured Comments

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andyjaggy

American Fork, UT

At what point do you just say forget it, drive as fast as you want, we don't care.

4:57 p.m. Jan. 31, 2013
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Steve Cottrell

Centerville, UT

Let's do a quick calculation. From Santaquin to St George is about 200 miles. At 80 mph, that would take 2 hours and 30 minutes. At 75 mph that would take 2 hours and 40 minutes. Certainly the reason for increasing the speed limit has More..

5:41 p.m. Jan. 31, 2013
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DN Subscriber 2

SLC, UT

Last year Utah had the fewest traffic fatalities in something like 50 years, so all the predictions of highway carnage from the higher speed limits in the test sections were unfounded.

Let's continue to add more sections where it More..

11:04 p.m. Jan. 31, 2013
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