Two Highways You’ll Soon Be Able to Drive 80 mph On

View Speed Limit Raised to 80 MPH on SH-130, SH 45 S in a larger map

Today, the Texas Transportation Commission approved 80 mph speed limits on two Central Texas highways.

The limit has been raised on the nine mile stretch of State Highway 45 South, from Interstate Highway 35 to US Highway 183. Heading west, SH 45 turns into SH 130, and the 80 MPH designation continues for 45 more miles, all the way to IH-35 in Williamson County.

In a statement, the commission provides some context for their decision:  

The 82nd Texas Legislature passed and the Governor signed House Bill 1201 which allows the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to establish speeds of up to 85 mph on certain Texas highways that were originally designed to accommodate such speeds. TxDOT recommended to the Commission that speed limits be raised on the two roadways after engineering studies showed that higher speeds could be posted safely.

Motorists must continue driving at the currently posted 75 mph limit until new signage goes up. You can read more about the changes on the TxDOT website.