Speed limit on Route 3 increases

Officials formally increased the speed limit on Route 3 this week.

The speed limit is now 65 mph on the portion of Route 3 that stretches from I-95 in Burlington to the New Hampshire border, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced.

The previous speed limit was 55 mph. Shoulder closures were implemented earlier this week so that workers could update the signs along the highway.

“Unrealistically low” speed limits can pose a danger to drivers because they promote two groups of drivers: those going the speed limit and those not.

“Increased uniformity in vehicle speeds will decrease crashes by reducing the likelihood of tailgating, improper passing, and other forms of reckless driving,” according to MassDOT.

When changing a road’s speed limit, officials strive to make it “enforceable.” Generally, speed limits should be in the 85th percentile, or the speed at which about 85% of drivers are going. MassDOT relies on this guidance and other factors like adjacent land use, the type of expected road users, and safety history when determining new speed limit recommendations.

This section of Route 3 has seen an increase in traffic over the years. In 2018, the annual average daily traffic was 112,793 vehicles, up from 94,163 in 2012, according to a comprehensive traffic report released by MassDOT in 2019.