My original comments are in red. I updated this page again in October, 1999 with thoughts after the first year of the new speed limit. These notes are in purple.

State Transportation Commissioner James F. Sullivan today reminded motorists that the new 65 mph speed limit on certain highways in the state does not go into effect until Thursday, October 1, 1998.

DOT maintenance forces are currently installing new 65 mph speed limit signs along the 334 miles of expressways in Connecticut that have been approved for the higher speed limit, but the signs will be covered with a temporary 55 mph sign overlay until October 1.

"Some motorists may believe that the 65 mph speed limit went into effect immediately with the passage of the legislation during the last session of the General Assembly," said Sullivan. "We want to remind the public that the effective date is October 1, 1998. Until that date, the maximum 55 mph speed limit is in effect on all expressways throughout the state. We also want to emphasize the fact that the 65 mph speed limit has been approved only for specific sections of highways where the new signs are in place and does not apply to all expressways statewide."

In accordance with Public Act 98-181, the State Traffic Commission at its August 18, 1998 meeting approved raising the speed limit to 65 mph on certain highways. The Commissioners of the state Departments of Transportation, Public Safety and Motor Vehicles make up the State Traffic Commission.

The following routes have been approved for the 65 mph speed limit:

Route 2 - from Route 94 in Glastonbury to the Bozrah/Norwich Town Line (29.77 miles)
This is a no-brainer as the highway is virtually deserted.

Route 6 - from Route 66 in Columbia to Route 66 in Windham (4.87 miles)
In other words, the highway portion.

Route 8 - from Echo Lake Road #3 in Watertown to Route 44 in Winchester (23.36 miles)

Route 9 - from I-95 in Old Saybrook to the Saybrook Road underpass in Middletown (22.05 miles)

Route 9 - from the Middletown/Cromwell Town Line to the I-84 connecting roadways in Farmington (15.68 miles)
The first section of Rt 9 makes sense. I disagree with the northern portion even more since having passed through there recently. There is no way that I agree with the intersection with 72 being posted at 65 MPH.

I will admit that this northern section makes more sense now.

Route 11- from Route 82 in Salem to Route 2 in Colchester (7.37 miles)
The only section of road more deserted that Rt 2.

Route 20- from Route 401 (Bradley Airport Connector) in Windsor to I-91 in Windsor (3.22 miles)
It's so short, why bother?

I-84 - from the Route 911 (Newtown Road) overpass in Danbury to the Middlebury/Waterbury Town Line (21.67 miles)
This should be wider before increasing the speed - check out the eastbound section near exits 14 and 15.

It's not as bad as I thought. However, it's kind of odd that there's no section of I-84 posted at 65 between Hartford and Waterbury, even though most of I-91 and all of I-691 are along the same route. Perhaps the reconstruction in and around New Britain can help out.

I-84 - from the Roberts Street underpass in East Hartford to the Massachusetts State Line (33.02 miles)
This is the only one that I knew had to go to 65.

I-91 - from the New Haven/North Haven Town Line to the Route 15 underpass in Meriden (14.99 miles)

I-91 - from the Route 66 underpass in Meriden to the Route 3 overpass in Wethersfield (13.26 miles)

I-91 - from Bina Avenue in Windsor to the Massachusetts State Line (16.48 miles)

I-95 - from the Hosley Avenue underpass in Branford to the Route 161 overpass in East Lyme (35.93 miles)

I-95 - from the Route 12 overpass in Groton to the Rhode Island State Line (16.24 miles)

I-291 - from Route 218 in Windsor to I-84 in Manchester (5.67 miles)

I-384 - from I-84 in East Hartford to the Route 6/44 underpass in Bolton (8.44 miles)

I-395 - from I-95 in East Lyme to the Massachusetts State Line (54.69 miles)
Or, in simpler terms, "the whole thing." Leave it to government folks to make things more difficult.

I-691 - from the North Wall Street underpass in Meriden to I-84 in Cheshire (7.36 miles)
Why waste time with this short section but not have it connected to another 65 MPH zone?

No sections of Route 15, or Route 8 south of Waterbury. Nothing in New London, nothing near "nightmare interchanges" like the 691-15-91 mess. Good.

My favorite thing this whole 65 MPH changeover is going to do comes from Danbury. The speed limit in Danbury from the Connecticut state line to the Bethel town line will go from 55 to 50 to 55 to 50 to 55 to 65 within less than a ten mile distance. Do you think we'll see some speed traps here?