WSDOT News

Date:  Friday, October 13, 2006

Contact: Dustin Terpening, (360) 757-5997

WSDOT Lowers I-5 Speed Limit through Burlington

BURLINGTON – Slow down if you're driving Interstate 5 through Burlington and pay close attention to the speed limit signs. WSDOT lowered the speed limit to 60 mph for an additional two miles north of the Skagit River bridge to enhance safety throughout. The speed limit was originally 70 mph.

Skagit County traffic increased by 19 percent on state highways between 1996 and 2004 as the population grew by approximately 13,000 people. More drivers are using the George Hopper (exit 229) and Highway 20 (exit 230) interchanges. The new speed limit will help improve safety for drivers passing through Burlington, as well as for those entering and exiting the freeway from interchanges.

“In 1995 we set the speed limit at 70 miles per hour," said WSDOT Traffic Engineer Mark Leth. "Since then population and traffic have grown dramatically in Skagit County. More vehicles are traveling on I-5 through Burlington and more vehicles are using the George Hopper and Highway 20 interchanges, which means more vehicles merging into or out of freeway traffic. By reducing the speed limit we hope to reduce the risk of collisions.”

WSDOT recently completed speed studies on I-5 and found that people drive I-5 differently now than they used to. WSDOT attributes these changes to population growth and development. The new speed limit will better match drivers' speeds with the roadway environment.

When setting speed zones, traffic engineers base decisions on operating speeds, crash history, roadway geometry and land use.

For more detailed information on how WSDOT sets speed limits visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/trafficoperations/traffic/limits.htm.

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