FALMOUTH (AP) — The Maine Department of Transportation says it is lowering the speed limit on Interstate 295 from Falmouth to Topsham by 5 miles per hour.
The new speed limit of 65 mph will go into effect on March 27. The agency is attributing the need for a lower limit on an increase of crashes and traffic on the highway.
The DOT says traffic data show crashes increased by nearly 30 percent after the speed limit was increased from 65 mph to 70 mph in 2014.
The agency says traffic volumes went up by a little more than 6 percent.
DOT chief engineer Joyce Taylor says lowering the speed limit will allow drivers more reaction time.
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