SHERMAN, TX-The speed limits on Highway 82 in Sherman will soon go up by 5 miles per hour. Monday night, city officials passed an ordinance permitting the increase.

There are varying speed limits along Highway 82 in Sherman, but they are all going up by 5 miles per hour. Now, along Highway 82 from FM-1417 west of Highway 75 the speed limit will go from 70 to 75 mph. And on 82 from Spur FM-1417 east towards Fannin county, the speed limit will go from 55 to 60 mph. Drivers said they have mixed feelings about the speed limit increase.

Darrell Brister drives through Sherman on Highway 82 everyday and said he's had too many close calls.

"There are tons of accidents on that road all the time. With all the semi action out there, they're driving like crazy," he said.

That's why he's worried about the speed limit going up.

"I know all cars are made to go faster but is going faster really a good thing? You know as you look here gas is $3.59 a gallon so the faster you go the faster you burn," Brister said.

But Chip South, said drivers will be better off with the speed limit increase.

"Everybody's already driving 75 on Highway 82 anyways or you'll get run over. And the people who are trying to do 5 mph under the speed limit, it's just raising the speed limit will just help with the commute," he said.

Monday night, Sherman City Council passed an ordinance that increases the speed limits on Highway 82 by 5 miles per hour within city limits.

"TxDOT is in the process of going through an analysis of all the state highways and mostly in order to increase speeds and make them more in line with what drivers are actually going and this is just an ongoing continuation of that."

Sherman City Engineer, Clay Barnett said the speed limit on Highway 82 will go from 70 to 75 mph west of Highway 75 to FM-1417 and from 55 to 60 mph at the intersection of 82 and Spur 1417 headed east.

Brister said that increase is dangerous because that part of 1417 is so close to Sherman High School.

"For new drivers, they don't need to be going fast because their mom and daddy's bought them their fast new cars and they don't know how to handle them or control them very well," he said.

But South said it won't make much of a difference.

"The difference from 55 mph to 60 mph is not really that big of a difference. And it's only 55 mph over there for what, 3 miles, and then it goes back to 70 mph," he said.

Barnett said they will now send the approved ordinance to TxDOT, giving them the green light to go ahead and post the new speed limits on Highway 82.
No word yet on when the signs will be put up.