August 3, 2020
By News Director Jared Atha
The Oklahoma State Department of Transportation announced that nearly 400 miles of rural interstates in Oklahoma, including a large section of Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma, will be shifting up to a maximum speed limit of 75 mph in the coming months
The changes will be made outside the major metro areas of these routes, and drivers are encouraged to pay close attention to safety during the transition.
The Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved six locations on Interstate 35 and Interstate 40 to change the maximum speed limit from 70 mph to 75 mph on 179 miles of identified rural sections of I-35 and on 220 miles of I-40.
Areas in western Oklahoma include, I-40 from the Oklahoma/Texas state line, east 32 miles to near the State Highway 34 junction just west of Elk City. I-40 from just east of the Beckham/Washita County line, east 22 miles to two miles west of the U.S. Highway 183 junction in Clinton, and I-40 from just west of the Custer/Caddo County line, east 50 miles to just east of Frisco Road near Yukon.
Larger metro areas along interstates such as Oklahoma City and Tulsa were not considered for changes as part of this process but could see changes in the future depending on how drivers handle the current increases.
Until the new signs are in place, the old posted speed limits will remain the enforced speed.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol urges drivers to pay close attention to the posted speed limits on their route or risk a ticket.
Work will be ongoing for several months to manufacture and install new signs in all of these interstate and turnpike corridors.
