JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Transportation on Thursday will raise the speed limit from 40 mph to 55 mph on a half-mile section of eastbound U.S. Route 50/63 between the Jackson Street and Chestnut Street bridges in Jefferson City. The section includes the Lafayette Street interchange.
The speed limit will only be increased in the eastbound direction as motorists traveling westbound in this area are approaching the Monroe Street traffic signal and need to be traveling at a slower speed.
The change will go into effect on Thursday, Nov. 16 when signs indicating the new speed limit will be posted.
The deciding factors for the eastbound speed limit change were:
- Improved traffic flow in the area due to the new Lafayette Street interchange;
- The desire to make the stretch a consistent 55 mph through the area;
- A low traffic crash rate; and
- A traffic study showing that 95 percent of vehicles were already traveling over the posted speed limit.
MoDOT officials conferred with the Jefferson City Police Department on raising the speed limit.
For more information, visit www.modot.org/central or call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).
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