The speed limit on the U.S. 60 Wendell Ford Expressway (commonly referred to as the bypass) will be reduced from 65 mph to 55 mph beginning Wednesday as state transportation officials respond to increasing traffic volumes and a rise in crashes along the corridor.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced the change Tuesday, saying the lower speed limit is intended to improve safety on the roadway, which carries more than 41,000 vehicles per day.
The speed limit was increased from 55 mph to 65 mph in 2017 following the opening of the U.S. 60 extension.
“While the change was intended to improve mobility, crash data collected since then indicate a significant increase in collisions,” a KYTC release says.
According to KYTC, there were 314 crashes on the expressway during the four years before the speed limit increase. In the last four years, that number climbed to 617 crashes.
Traffic volumes have also increased steadily. According to KYTC, average daily traffic on the bypass has grown from about 21,900 vehicles in 1996 to 41,115 vehicles in 2025.
Following a fatal crash on the expressway in September 2025, the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office conducted a targeted speed enforcement effort that resulted in more than 40 citations over three days. Some motorists were clocked traveling as fast as 90 mph, authorities said.
At the request of local officials, KYTC reviewed crash data for the corridor and concluded that reducing speeds could improve safety by giving drivers more time to react in heavy traffic and reducing crash severity.
Transportation officials also said lower speeds should improve merging operations at interchanges by giving motorists additional time to accelerate and enter traffic. KYTC is evaluating additional signage and operational improvements at selected interchanges.
The cabinet is also developing a project to install median cable barriers along portions of the bypass. The barriers are designed to reduce crossover crashes, which often result in the most serious injuries and fatalities. The project is expected to be advertised for bids later this year.
Crews will begin replacing speed limit signs at midnight Tuesday, with the new 55 mph limit expected to be in place by Wednesday morning.
