DOVER, N.H. — New Hampshire transportation officials are heading to Rochester next week to discuss raising the speed limit on a section of the Spaulding Turnpike.

Earlier this year, the state raised the speed limit to 70 mph along most Interstate 93 from Canterbury north to the Vermont border. The Department of Transportation is now considering raising the limit from 55 to 65 mph north of Exit 9 on the Spaulding Turnpike in Dover. The state doesn’t need approval from local communities, but transportation officials will meet with Rochester officials on Tuesday to discuss the idea.

State traffic engineer Bill Lambert told Foster’s Daily Democrat that a feasibility study showed that most traffic already is going 65 to 70 mph in that area.

“By changing it to 65, we’re putting the number at what the traffic is already doing,” he said.

State police have agreed to the higher limit north of Exit 9 but have concerns about higher speeds south of the exit, he said. That section sees more crashes, and has shorter lanes for traffic to merge onto the highway.

Lambert said there has not been a significant difference in speeds since the I-93 changes took effect.


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