Your Stories: I-84 Speed Limit Going Up: Where and Why

Your daily commute along Interstate 84 is about to get faster along a heavily traveled corridor. 

A Department of Transportation project is underway to raise the posted speed limits in certain areas. CT DOT said the changes are aimed at reducing crashes and dangerous driving habits, such as drivers weaving and switching lanes to get around slower vehicles. 

Some commuters are already taking notice. 

Kevin Edmiston reached out to NBC Connecticut after observing the speed limit on his eastbound drive from Cheshire into Plainville had been raised to 65 miles per hour. 

However, he said, the signs on the westbound side of the same stretch of highway still say 55 mph. He wanted to know why. 

It’s all part of a bigger project still in progress to raise the speed limit in both directions from the Waterbury/Cheshire line to the Farmington/West Hartford line. 

The Connecticut DOT said traffic volume on that particular stretch of I-84 in both directions can range from 34,900 to 64,800 vehicles per day. 

A DOT study measured traffic speeds, which averaged 68 miles per hour with 85th percentile speeds of 77 miles per hour, far above the existing speed limit of 55. 

A DOT Traffic Investigation Report also analyzed three years of crash data along the route and concluded, “The majority of drivers determine their speed based on traffic and roadway conditions, driving at speeds they consider safe. If the speed limit is not in accordance with this, the majority of drivers will disregard the speed limit, which is what is currently being observed on this section of I-84. Studies indicate that a speed limit lower than a realistic operating speed does not result in lower operating speeds or a reduction of crashes.” 

Read the Traffic Investigation Report below. 

Under the DOT plan, the speed limits will change to the following: 

  • From the Waterbury/Cheshire town line to the Sunset Avenue structure in Plainville, the speed limit will increase from 55 to 65 mph 
  • From Sunset Avenue in Plainville to the Slater Road connector in New Britain, the speed limit will increase from 50 to 55 mph 
  • From the Slater Road connector in New Britain to the Farmington/West Hartford town line, the speed limit will increase from 55 to 65 mph 

The same speed limit changes apply to both eastbound and westbound directions. Connecticut DOT hasn’t finished changing out all the speed limit signs just yet. 

Spokesperson Kevin Nursick said that project should be completed in the next three weeks. In the meantime, DOT said drivers must obey whatever speed limit is currently posted to stay within the lawful limits and avoid a speeding ticket. 

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