State House Votes to Increase North Dakota interstate Speeds to 80 mph

Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, speaks on the State House floor. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(Michael Achterling – North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota House members voted to increase the state’s speed limit to 80 mph for interstate highways.

State lawmakers two years ago approved an identical bill, but then-Gov. Doug Burgum vetoed it, citing the state’s Vision Zero initiative to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on the state’s roadways.

North Dakota’s maximum interstate speed limit is 75 mph. Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, chief sponsor of House Bill 1298, said the speed limit increase would still allow cities and towns to work with the Department of Transportation to control the speed limits on portions of the interstate that pass through their city limits.

Montana and South Dakota have maximum speed limits of 80 mph on interstates, while Minnesota’s limit is 70 mph.