Traffic engineers seek safety and consistency in speed limit changes

HUNTSVILLE — Motorists will notice speed limit changes in the west and east sides of Huntsville on two well-traveled roads.

The changes result from the city of Huntsville’s annual review of major traffic corridors, according to Traffic Engineering Director Nick Nene.

“Safety and consistency is key,” said Nene. “We look at growth, the addition of new developments, increase or decrease in volume of traffic, and speed study analysis to determine whether speed limits should be adjusted within our guidelines.

“It’s part of an ever-growing and changing city.”

The most noticeable will be on U.S. 72 in the area of Chapman Mountain.

At the east end of I-565 where the highway continues at Chapman Mountain as U.S. 72, the city requested the Alabama Department of Transportation raise the speed limit to 55 mph where it extends east for approximately 3.6 miles to the city limits at Martinson Boulevard.

This action required ALDOT to raise the speed limit from 50 to 55 mph at end of the highway and lower the speed limit east of Shields Road to the city limits from 65 to 55 mph.

On the west side, a section of Balch Road, from the intersection with U.S. 72 to Capshaw Road, dropped from 45 to 40 mph. This matches the speed limit along other sections of Balch Road under Madison County jurisdiction, the city said.