Nevada Zips to 70-M.P.H. Speed Limit, Then Slams on the Brakes
Nevada stepped on the gas Tuesday morning, but quickly throttled back when the federal government cut off $66 million in road construction funds.
Legislators in the state that once had no speed limit on some roads--and was the last to adopt the 55 m.p.h. limit a dozen years ago--had ordered the limit raised to 70 m.p.h. on a 33-mile stretch of Interstate 80 near Fernley, east of Reno.
The 1985 state Legislature, however, provided for returning the limit to 55 m.p.h. if the federal government served notice that road money was to be withheld.
The new limit went into effect at 7:30 a.m.
At the same moment, a funding cutoff letter was handed to acting state Transportation Director Garth Dull by Tony Horner, the Federal Highway Administration’s Nevada chief.
Dull rescinded the new limit within 30 seconds.
The new 70-m.p.h. speed limit signs were never posted.
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