55MPH or 50MPH; which is it?

Gus PhilpottWoodstock Advocate
July 5, 2007

When is the Speed Limit not the speed limit?

Recently a 50MPH speed limit sign appeared on westbound Route 120, just south of Charles Road, for drivers heading into Woodstock.

Since this is open country (rural highway), the State speed limit of 55MPH should apply, as it did until the new sign showed up.

So, just what is the correct speed limit? I have contacted the IDOT Sign Shop in Lake Zurich to ask whether an error was made in posting the 50MPH sign.

For eastbound drivers leaving Woodstock, the speed limit is still 55MPH, once you clear the 50MPH speed zone just east of Raffel Road. Common practice is for the speed limit to be the same in both directions on a given segment of highway..

It will be interesting to learn why and how the new, lower speed limit sign was posted.