Officials looking at speed limit on U.S. 117 South
By Steve Herring
Published in News on November 22, 2010 3:29 PM
For the time being, motorists will not be able to drive 60 mph, at least not legally, on U.S. 117 Bypass South.
The increased speed limit had been suggested by Connie Price, chairman of the Technical Coordinating Committee of the Goldsboro Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Price, who also is the county planner, said he thought about the increase after traveling on a limited-access highway similar to U.S. 117 South that had a 60 mph speed limit. The current speed limit is 55 mph on that section of U.S. 117 South
A similar speed limit might make sense for U.S. 117 South, he said.
Price said the section of highway he was looking at extends south, from where U.S. 117 Alternate splits to the east of U.S. 117 South, all the way to Interstate 40 in Duplin County.
However, during the MPO's Thursday meeting, Depart-ment of Transportation District Engineer Tim Little said a similar suggestion had been made several years ago and had been rejected.
Also, committee member David Quick said the speed limit already increases to 60 mph in Duplin County.
Little said the request was denied because of the number of at-grade intersections along that stretch of road.
"Another reason is the number of accidents along the corridor. That does not help," he said.
For example, a fatal wreck occurred just months ago at the U.S. 117 South and West Main Street intersection in Mount Olive, he said.
Little said DOT and Mount Olive officials will meet Dec. 6 to discuss short-range plans for the intersections and long-range plans for the corridor.