Another State Is Raising Speed Limits To 75 Miles Per Hour

Missouri joins the growing list of states raising highway speed limits, but drivers will have to wait for MoDOT to decide which roads qualify.

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Jeff Perez

By: Jeff Perez

Aug 24, at 2:46pm ET

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Missouri is raising the maximum speed limit from 70 to 75 mph on some rural interstates and freeways.
MoDOT still has to determine which roads qualify, with rural sections of I-70 and I-49 among the likely candidates.
The new law takes effect August 28, but drivers may have to wait until late 2026 or even 2027 for the new 75-mph signs.

Speed limits across America keep creeping higher. Nine states now allow speeds of up to 80 or even 85 miles per hour on certain roads, and Missouri is the latest to inch closer to that group. The state is raising the limit to 75 mph on some highways.

In Missouri, eligible rural interstates and freeways could see their speed limits increase from 70 to 75 mph. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is still reviewing which roads can safely handle the higher limit, but the change could eventually apply to rural sections of I-70 or I-49 near Kansas City.

MoDOT says no speed-limit changes will take effect until that review is complete, which could happen as late as next year.

Photo by: Getty Images

What Roads Are Getting A 75-MPH Speed Limit?

Senate Bill 1408, sponsored by Republican state Senator Jamie Burger, raises the maximum speed limit from 70 to 75 mph on rural interstates and freeways. Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the bill, and it officially takes effect on August 28, 2026.

That doesn't mean every highway in Missouri will suddenly get a 75-mph speed limit, though.

Urban highways aren't covered by the new law, while rural expressways are also treated differently under Missouri's speed-limit rules. The new 75-mph maximum specifically applies to rural interstates and freeways. Rural sections of I-70 or I-49 near Kansas City are the most likely candidates for the increase.

When Will Missouri Actually Raise The Speed Limits?

The original expectation was that the higher speed limits could take effect as soon as August 28. But MoDOT's ongoing evaluation means drivers may have to wait considerably longer before they see new 75-mph signs.

State officials say the review could stretch toward the end of the year as the agency determines which roads qualify. That's probably not what drivers hoping for a slightly quicker trip across Missouri wanted to hear. At the same time, it means the state isn't simply changing speed-limit signs statewide and hoping for the best.

Speaking with KOMU 8 News, MoDOT Director Ed Hassinger said safety has to be part of the conversation.

'While people want convenience, we have to bring the element of safety into that discussion.'

What do you think?

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Comments

Until the review is complete and new signs go up, that extra 5 mph is still off-limits—even though Missouri's new law is already on the books.

Motor1's Take: There's some data suggesting that raising speed limits on rural highways doesn't necessarily lead to more dangerous roads. Several states have already adopted 80-mph speed limits, while Texas allows speeds as high as 85 mph on certain highways. Missouri raising the limit to 75 mph on carefully selected rural interstates and freeways seems like a reasonable move—as long as MoDOT determines those roads can safely handle it.