The speed limit on Fort Washington Way will go up to 55 mph, probably by the end of this month, state transportation officials said Monday.

        The decision to boost the limit from its current 50 mph comes as the Ohio Department of Transportation, which sets speed limits on the state's interstate highways, concludes a speed study.

        Cincinnati transportation officials and City Council had asked for the study in January in hopes that the current limit be left in place or perhaps lowered for the 1.5-mile stretch connecting Interstates 71 and 75 and U.S. 50.

        They cited the fact that since January 2001, there have been 13 accidents involving tractor-trailers tipping over at or near Lytle Tunnel on the eastern end of Fort Washington Way.

        Officials said trucks were taking the steep curve too fast.

        Joe Bassil, the state transportation department's regional traffic maintenance engineer, said the study indicates that the redesigned highway can handle the greater speed from a structural standpoint. He also said 15 percent of cars headed northbound on Fort Washington Way are driving 70 mph or faster. He acknowledged that how fast people drive is a factor when setting speed limits.

        Roughly 100,000 cars and 20,000 trucks use the highway daily.

        Mr. Bassil said signs warning trucks not to drive faster than 40 mph in the tunnel are set at the correct level but that trucks averaged 49 mph entering the tunnel northbound and 56 mph southbound.

        “We look forward to working with ODOT on different ways to get people to slow down going through those curves,” Cincinnati transportation director John Deatrick said.

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