Abilene and Surrounding Areas to See Speed Limits Raised to 75 MPH

Parts of various highways across the state will see TxDOT raise their speed limits from 70 to 75 mph, including I-20 in Taylor County.

Posting new speed limits on 1,500 miles of interstate highway is a major milestone in implementing the new law, said Carol Rawson, TxDOT Traffic Operations Division director.

“Texas’ economic strength depends on the efficient and safe movement of people and goods,” Rawson explained. “These new speed limits increase highway efficiency while maintaining the safety of the transportation system."

TxDOT recommended to the Commission that speed limits be raised on segments of I-10, I-20, I-27, I-30, I-35, I-37, I-40, I-44 and I-45 after engineering studies showed that higher speeds could be posted safely.

Motorists must continue to travel at the posted speed until new signs are installed, said Rawson.

“The new speed limit is not official until the signs go up,” she added.

The new 75 mph speed limit will go into effect in the following locations:

● I-10—289 miles across El Paso, Gillespie, Kerr, Kendall, Bexar, Guadalupe, Caldwell, Gonzales, Fayette, Colorado, Austin, Jefferson and Orange counties

● I-20—423 miles across Crane, Ector, Midland, Martin, Howard, Mitchell, Nolan, Taylor, Callahan, Eastland, Erath, Palo Pinto, Van Zandt, Smith, Gregg and Harrison counties

● I-27—109 miles across Lubbock, Hale, Swisher and Randall counties

● I-30—139 miles across Hunt, Hopkins, Franklin, Titus, Morris and Bowie counties

● I-35—106 miles across Webb, Medina, Atascosa, Bexar, Hill and Cooke counties

● I-37—130 miles across Nueces, San Patricio, Live Oak, Atascosa and Bexar counties

● I-40—166 miles across Deaf Smith, Oldham, Potter, Carson, Gray, Donley and Wheeler counties

● I-44—11 miles across Wichita County

● I-45—143 miles across Walker, Madison, Leon, Freestone and Navarro counties

Previously, the only Texas highways with speed limits over 70 mph were in rural West Texas. Those highways have speed limits of 75 or 80 mph and were mainly I-10 and I-20.