Speed up, slow down, okay speed up again. That's what you might find yourself saying while driving portions Interstate 90 and Interstate 29 in South Dakota in the future if the Department of Transportation has its way.

As you know April 1, 2015 the state gave motorists the green light to push the pedal to the metal and drive 80 mph on South Dakota interstates.

Now the Department of Transportation is asking the state to reconsider that idea on portions of I-90 and I-29.

“There are some sections where we have higher volumes of traffic than other parts in the state or more curves, both horizontal and vertical that may not be the best places to have the 80,” according to Monica Heller, Region Traffic Engineer.

The increased speed limit was part of Governor Dennis Daugaard's transportation funding package, making South Dakota one of four states to allow a faster speed on interstate highways.

On Thursday, April 9 the Department of Transportation began making recommendations on possibly lowering the speed limit back down to 75 mph on stretches along Interstate 90 and Interstate 29.

There's also another plan being discussed regarding the 20 mile stretch from Rapid City to Sturgis. Heller said, “We anticipate a lot more traffic. We’re asking the Transportation Commission to lower it to 65 mph from Sturgis to Rapid City, so we would be adding about 20 miles in there.”

This year is the 75th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and state is expecting record attendance, in the neighborhood of 1 million people. If those numbers are correct, travel is bound to get a little dicey at times with the higher speeds.

The Commission will consider the proposal at its meeting on April 23 before possibly sending it to a public hearing, where these issues would then be voted on.

Source: NC 1

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