The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's decision to increase the speed limit to 65 mph from 55 mph on an additional 89 miles of the 360-mile-long toll road, effective by the Memorial Day holiday weekend, will eliminate a source of frustration for many motorists. Currently, motorists who try to adhere to the lower limit in the areas in question often regard themselves as more nuisance than safety-conscious because they represent an obstruction to the smooth flow of traffic.

Most other vehicles pass them, albeit in violation of the posted limit, because the condition of the roadway is conducive to above-55 mph travel. On most of the 89 miles in question, turnpike improvements in recent years have made keeping the lower speed limit in effect an unfair restriction on those using the highway.

However, the commission was correct in keeping the 55 mph limit in effect on sections of the toll road in the vicinity of the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel east of Somerset - as well as in certain areas between the Donegal and Somerset interchanges west of Somerset.

East of the tunnel is an eight-mile stretch of hilly, winding roadway that is particularly hazardous to tractor-trailer traffic, although it represents a challenge to passenger vehicles as well. Between Somerset and Donegal are hills and curves that also make travel more dangerous than on most of the non-hilly, straighter sections of what often is referred to as the nation's "granddaddy of superhighways."

The positive intent between Donegal and the tunnel is to vary the speed limit between 55 mph and 65 mph, depending on weather and traffic conditions. State police will adjust the speed limit with portable signs until new electronic speed signs are installed.

Those new electronic signs should be a significant asset from a safety standpoint.

"Our intention had always been to get as much of the turnpike returned to 65 mph where it's safe to do so . . . we added lanes, straightened curves and made travel safer for everyone," said Joe Brimmeier, turnpike commission chief executive.

And, with the additional work that will be financed by the hefty turnpike toll increase that went into effect last year, the highway is destined to become safer and more driver-friendly, if plans currently on the drawing board continue moving forward.

The speed limit will remain at 55 mph in the turnpike's tunnels and at mainline toll barriers such as at Warrendale, where the turnpike has installed E-Zpass lanes. But overall, allowing traffic to move at 65 mph through the additional miles is an accomplishment made possible by the turnpike commission's steps at trying to meet the traveling public's needs.

That goal must remain the basis for all that the commission does.