A section of Interstate 74 between Cunningham Avenue and I-57 will be reduced from 70 mph to 60 mph this week.
The change will take effect Friday, Aug. 31.
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently completed a study on I-74 and I-57 in the Champaign-Urbana area and concluded that a reduction of the speed limit is warranted, given the current prevailing speeds, crash rates and number of interchanges.
The same study determined that the 70 mph limit on I-57 is appropriate.
IDOT routinely reviews all state-maintained routes to determine whether any low-cost safety improvements can be made, including speed limits, striping, signal timing and roadside hazards. According to IDOT, reducing the speed limit of through traffic closer to that of traffic from interchanges gives drivers more time to react, thereby reducing the severity of a crash or avoiding one altogether.