By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The speed limit has been raised along Interstate 471 linking Interstate 275 in Northern Kentucky to Interstate 71 in Cincinnati.

Last week, signs changing the speed limit from 55 mph to 65 mph went up along a five-mile stretch, said Bill Madden, a branch manager with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District 6 office.

"Our district chief Sam Beverage noticed that people were driving significantly higher than the speed limit of 55," he said.

So the district studied how fast motorists were driving and found that most people drove around 65 mph. The study found that more than 85 percent of the drivers were driving at 65 mph, which met the criteria for the speed to be changed, Madden said.

The speed limit on the bridge across the Ohio River is still 55 mph.

Last month, transportation officials also raised the speed limit on an eight-mile stretch of Interstate 75/71.

The speed limit was raised from 55 mph to 65 mph from about the Richwood exit north to the interchange with Interstate 275, Madden said.

A speed study there also showed that the speed limit needed to be raised, he said.

With the higher speed limits Madden urged drivers to "stay alert and drive smart."

E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com