Beginning July 1, speed limits on divided four-lane highways in Kansas will increase to 75 mph from 70.
The more than 800 miles covered under the new law include most of the Kansas Turnpike from the Kansas-Oklahoma border to Kansas City, Kan., and rural sections of interstates 70 and 35.
Lawmakers wanted to increase the speed limit to make the state more competitive and in line with other Western states that have high limits. Neighboring states Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma are among states that have 75 mph speed limits on rural sections of Interstates.
The Kansas Motor Carriers Association remained neutral toward the faster speed, as long as the limit applied to all vehicles. The KMCA said it doubted many carriers would increase the governed speed on trucks to accommodate the higher limit.