The Missouri Department of Transportation will raise the speed limit from 40 mph to 55 mph on a half-mile section of eastbound U.S. 50/63 between the Jackson Street and Chestnut Street bridges in Jefferson City on Thursday. The section includes the Lafayette Street interchange.
The speed limit only increase only in the eastbound direction, as motorists traveling westbound in this area are approaching the Monroe Street traffic signal and need to travel at a slower speed.
The change will go into effect Thursday when signs indicating the new speed limit will be posted.
The deciding factors for the eastbound speed limit change were improved traffic flow in the area due to the new Lafayette Street interchange, the desire to make the stretch a consistent 55 mph through the area, a low traffic crash rate, and a traffic study showing 95 percent of vehicles were already traveling over the posted speed limit, according to a MoDOT news release.
MoDOT officials conferred with the Jefferson City Police Department on raising the speed limit, according to the release.