Right now, after much talk from travelers on that stretch of 202/9, the speed limit is now 55. The talk centered around the fact that this is a major east/west highway and not a local road. There are several places between Hopkinton and Keene that the speed limit does drop. First, at the west end of the Hillsboro bypass speed drops to 45 for about a little more than a mile and then you can up your speed to 50 until you get to North Branch when it's back to 45 for a couple miles. After that, it's back to 55 until you get closer to Keene.

The I-89 Exit 5 US Rte 202 & State Rte. 9 is up to 55mph. When they had it lower to 50mph, i got stopped going east bound. i was clocked at 66 mph crossing over Stumpfield. The State Trooper was going west bound. i was going east. Traffic was very heavy at the time. i pulled over & waited for him. i asked him when he came to my window, "Was i going to fast?" He started laughing & he couldn't stop. The way i said it, must of tickled his funny bone! & he forgot what he clocked me for! i offered to help him. i said, "65?" & his reply "66 a matter of fact." Then i said "ok." Then he asked me, "Did you know we lower the speed limit to 50 mph due to the head-ons? i said "no." Then i said to him, "get rid of the passing zones." So about 2 wks or so they did. all solid yellow all the way to state Rte. 114 exit. Then about 2 wks later, they rised the speed backup to 55mph. About, i don't recall, year or 2 or longer getting off I-89 exit 5 is 55mph & used to be 40mph. Seeing all those scid marks, i can see why. a bit dangerous! They seem more relax now. But don't let your gaurd down. Once in a while Hopkinton Police still like to sit on that side road for the Stumpfield Boat ramp. i also saw one time Hopkinton were clocking for speeders, sitting down below off the exit for tha golf course. They would sit on the road & target the cars above on the highway. Usually the flow on that highway is 60 to 65mph. One time i was doing 70 mph. i couldn't slow cause the car in front of me & the one in back of me were doing the same. All 3 of us were maintaining 2-3 car length the whole time. i don't recommend doing 70. but that was the flow at that time & its better & safer to stay in that flow even its way above the posted limit.