It’s still not even the unofficial speed limit, but drivers on I-285 will legally get to drive a little faster starting at noon on Friday.

The Georgia DOT will raise the speed limit to 65 mph on a 27-mile stretch of the perimeter south of I-20.

“This isn’t an invitation for anyone to go faster than they have already been going,” DOT spokeswoman Natalie Dale told WSB. “We decided that the 65 mph is a safe and reasonable speed limit for those commuters.”

WSB’s Capt. Herb Emory says this makes total sense.

“Another good idea to help drivers save some time getting to work or home,” says Emory. “There’s plenty of lanes in that section to safetly support the higher speeds and raising the limit to normal interstate-speed is another good common sense move by Georgia DOT.”

The speed limit increase does not affect the north side of I-285. At least not yet. It will remain at 55 mph for the next year.

“We will be making some changes in that area with some variable speed limit signs,” says Dale.

The maximum speed will also be 65 mph when the variable signs are added.