Road Warrior readers have been writing in regularly for the last few weeks asking when is the speed limit on Highway 101 from north Petaluma to south Santa Rosa going to be raised back to 65. We’ve been asking Caltrans, too, and here’s the answer from spokesman Adam Priest:

Caltrans is currently in the process of completing all task list items related to the completion of the U.S. Route 101 Central A and B Project. During this and the prior phases of construction, the modified 55 mile per hour speed limit, done so to insure the safety of motorists during construction, was enacted. At this phase, though the project is essentially completed, there remain workers and contractors on the highway putting the finishing touches on this project. To ensure, again, both the safety of the workers and the motorists, the 55 mile per hour speed limit remains in effect. 

Several projects in the area remain. When these final actions are complete, Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol will return the speed limit to its original 65 miles per hour. We appreciate your patience.

We cannot provide for you at this time an exact date of this return. Caltrans, however, is working dligently toward toward a speedy completion.

We will keep you informed of our progress.

So the message is: Hang in there.

But as readers realize, hardly anyone is going 55 during noncommute hours. (I even was passed on the Cotati Grade by a Caltrans truck that must’ve been doing about 70.) The CHP acknowledges few are paying attention to the speed limit but warns officers are ticketing speeders. I’ve seen officers using Lidar on the Grade as traffic flowed by at 65, so I’m guessing they’re looking for those really abusing the speed limit, and there are plenty.

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