Speed limit raised on portion of U.S. Highway 90

CRESTVIEW — The speed limit now is higher on U.S. Highway 90 in Crestview between Lee Farm Boulevard and State Road 4.

The limit rose from 45 to 55 mph after an area resident contacted the The Florida Department of Transpiration with concerns, according to FDOT Public Information Specialist Tanya Branton.

Larry Woolley, owner of Woolley Consignments and Surplus on West James Lee Boulevard, has watched the changes made on U.S. 90 since 1985.

“It was 55 out here for years and years…it’s really hard to drive 45 out there,” Woolley said.

FDOT changed the speed limit after completing a speed study in the area and made recommendations. Branton said the study looked at different factors like crashes and road features.

Another factor observed during this study was the 85th percentile speed. This part of the study looked at the speed that 85 percent of vehicles traveled at or under, which gave the department an idea of what the speed limit should be.

“All of these factors were considered in the decision to raise the speed to 55 mph making it more consistent and predictable throughout SR10/US90,” Branton said in an email.

The new speed limits signs already have been placed alongside the highway.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Speed limit raised on portion of U.S. Highway 90