DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCE THAT THEY WILL BE RAISING THE SPEED LIMIT ON STATE ROUTE 1!
Soon, motorists will be able to drive faster on State Route 1 in both directions from Trap Shooters Road to the Puncheon Run Connector. The speed limit along Puncheon Run Connector between U.S. Route 13 and State Route 1 will also be increased. Now motorists can drive faster without the fear of getting a ticket – not that they don’t already.
The Delaware’s Department of Transportation (DELDOT) announced that they will be raising the speed limit along State Route 1 from 55 mph to 60 mph in both directions from Trap Shooters Road to the Puncheon Run Connector.
Along Puncheon Run Connector between U.S. Route 13 and State Route 1, the speed limit will be increased from 50 mph to 60 mph.
The signing change is scheduled to be implemented during the week of January 9, 2017, pending weather or other unforeseen delays.
For years, vehicles have been traveling much faster than the current speed limits along these sections of roadway, and based on a DelDOT engineering review, the proposed speed limits are considered reasonable and safe.
The higher speed limits are expected to reduce the variance of vehicle speeds, are consistent with the design of the roadway, and provide a transitional speed limit between the existing 55 mph limits along both State Route 1 and U.S. Route 13 south of Dover, and the existing 65 mph limit along State Route 1 north of the Puncheon Run Connector.
A Look At Delaware Speed Limits
In Delaware, three roads carry a 65 mph (105 km/h) speed limit: I-495, the toll road portion of Delaware Route 1, and Interstate 95 from the Maryland line to the southern junction with I-495.
The remainder of I-95 between the southern junction with I-495 and the Pennsylvania line and the freeway portion of Delaware Route 141 are 55 mph (89 km/h) while Interstate 295 is 50 mph (80 km/h).
Prior to the National Maximum Speed Law that went into effect nationwide, I-95 used to have a 60 mph (97 km/h) speed limit except around Wilmington.
In May 2015, the state of Delaware increased the speed limit on Interstate 95 from 55 mph (89 km/h) to 65 mph (105 km/h) between the Maryland state line and the I-495 interchange.
In January 2017, the speed limit on Delaware Route 1 between Trap Shooters Road and the Puncheon Run Connector in Dover was increased from 55 mph (89 km/h) to 60 mph (97 km/h) while the speed limit on the Puncheon Run Connector was increased from 50 mph (80 km/h) to 60 mph (97 km/h).
All rural two-lane state-owned roads have 50 mph (80 km/h) speed limits, while all urban speed limits, regardless of location, are held at 25 mph (40 km/h) for two-lane roads and up to 35 mph (56 km/h) for four-lane roads.
Four lane highways such as US 13, US 113, portions of US 40 near Bear and Glasgow, and the at-grade portions of DE 1 are normally 55 mph (89 km/h).
School zones have 20 mph (32 km/h) speed limits.
Interstate 495, which forms a bypass around Wilmington, features changeable speed limit signs for environmental purposes. These signs typically display a 65 mph (105 km/h) speed limit, but this limit changes to 55 mph (89 km/h) on days when air quality is a concern. The limit is also lowered during construction, weather conditions, and when accidents occur.
All neighborhoods and subdivisions in Delaware have a maximum speed limit of 25 mph (40 km/h) as set by state law. Frequent ad campaigns on in-state radio stations remind residents of this (as of January 2013).
