SAN ANTONIO - It’s being built to relieve traffic congestion along I-35 between San Antonio and Austin, but many truck drivers say they plan on avoiding the new 41-mile stretch of Texas 130.
The toll road when finished later this year will extend SH 130 from I-10 in Seguin to I-35 at Georgetown.
The Texas Department of Transportation plans to set the speed limit at 85 mph – the fastest posted speed limit in the country.
The higher speed limit was supposed to entice more drivers to take the toll, but it’s having an adverse effect on truck drivers.
“Most trucks drivers aren’t going to take it,” said trucker Mike Wilson. “It ain’t worth it.”
The veteran truck driver said the amount of time he would save from taking Texas 130 would be offset by the toll fees and extra fuel he would burn by driving faster.
Many of the large trucking companies install governors on their trucks – limiting the speed of its trucks to 65 mph for safety and for fuel efficiency reasons.
Trucker James Regenauer said his truck maxes out at 68 mph.
Next to a car traveling 85 mph, Regenauer said it’s an accident waiting to happen.
"Any time you got two different speeds set for two different vehicles on the same road it's going to cause a problem," he explained.
The American Trucking Association has urged the state to drop the speed limit to 65, but some worry a slower speed limit will discourage other drivers from taking the toll.
The state contends as congestion builds, so will the use of Texas 130 - regardless of the speed.
