Speed Limit to Rise to 70 MPH on 1,272 Miles of Rural State Freeways

The speed limit on 1,272 miles of California freeways will increase from 65 mph to 70 mph beginning Sunday, the California Department of Transportation announced Wednesday.

All highways designated for the higher limit are rural freeways, and all are roads where the limit was 65 mph before President Clinton signed legislation last year removing federal restraints on states setting their own limits.

Caltrans raised the limit from 55 to 65 mph last month on 2,800 miles of freeways and expressways. None of those sections is increased to 70 mph.

The 70-mph limit will take effect as soon as signs are posted, said Caltrans Director James van Loben Sels. That will start Sunday and be completed as quickly as weather permits. Last month, it took two days to post 65-mph limit signs on the 2,800 miles of California highways.

The new 70-mph limit will be posted on 396 miles of Interstate 5, 133 miles of Interstate 8, 156 miles of Interstate 10, 232 miles of Interstate 15, 155 miles of Interstate 40 and about 200 miles of six other freeways.

The maximum speed for big trucks will remain at 55 mph on all roads posted for a 65- or 70-mph limit for cars.

CHP Commissioner Dwight Helmick issued a statement saying the new 65- and 70-mph limits will be enforced without any leniency.

“If the posted speed limit is 70 mph, it means a maximum of 70. Drivers who exceed that maximum will not be given any latitude,” Helmick said.

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70-MPH Zones

Interstate 580: Interstate 5 to Interstate 205 in San Joaquin and Alameda counties.

California 99: Interstate 5 to Bakersfield, Bakersfield to Visalia, and Fresno to south of Madera.

Interstate 215: Temecula to Sun City.

Interstate 10: Beaumont to the Arizona state line.

Interstate 5: Grapevine to Stockton, Stockton to Sacramento and Sacramento to Red Bluff.

Interstate 8: El Cajon to Mountain Springs.

Interstate 15: Barstow to Corona and San Bernardino to the Nevada state line.

Interstate 40: Barstow to the Arizona state line.

Interstate 205: Tracy to Interstate 5 in Solano and Yolo counties.

Interstate 215: San Bernardino to Devore.

Interstate 505: Interstate 80 to Interstate 5 in Solano and Yolo counties.

Source: Caltrans