HOUSE BILL NO. 1179 Offered January 11, 2006 Prefiled January 11, 2006 A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-881 of the Code of Virginia, relating to special speed limitations on interstates. ---------- Patron-- Carrico ---------- Referred to Committee on Transportation ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 46.2-881 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-881. Special speed limitation on bridges, tunnels and interstates.

It shall be unlawful to drive any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer on any public bridge, causeway, viaduct, or in any tunnel, or on any interstate at a speed exceeding that indicated as a maximum by signs posted thereon or at its approach by or on the authority of the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner.

The Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner, on request or on his own initiative, may conduct an investigation of any public bridge, causeway, viaduct, or tunnel, or interstate and, on the basis of his findings, may set the maximum speed of vehicles which such structure can withstand or which is necessitated in consideration of the benefit and safety of the traveling public and the safety of the structure. The Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner is expressly authorized to establish and indicate variable speed limits on such structures to be effective under such conditions as would in his judgment, warrant such variable limits, including but not limited to darkness, traffic conditions, atmospheric conditions, weather, emergencies, and like conditions which may affect driving safety. Any speed limits, whether fixed or variable, shall be prominently posted in such proximity to such structure as deemed appropriate by the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner. The findings of the Commissioner shall be conclusive evidence of the maximum safe speed which can be maintained on such structure.