ST. PAUL (AP) - Feel free to stomp a bit harder on the gas pedal on hundreds of miles of Minnesota roads.

The Department of Transportation said Friday that speed limits will increase on about 340 miles of roads in northern and western Minnesota.

Stretches of two-lane highways including U.S. 212 and MN 23 will jump from 55 mph to 60 mph over the next few weeks. After some study, transportation officials found the roads could support increased speed limits without a safety risk.

Other roads could see similar boosts in the future. MnDOT says it will study about 1,500 two-lane highway miles this year to see if they could handle increased speed limits.

The increased limits will take effect as soon as new signs are posted.

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