Transportation officials say the signs will allow them to provide travelers with more accurate road information.

New, electronic speed limit signs should get a good workout in this weekend's weather. The new signs can flash a lower speed limit in five-mile-an-hour increments. State transportation staffer Cliff Curtis says two-way radios, cell phones and the ability to remote control the signs give officials a more effective way to raise the speed limits back up.

"How many times have we seen that the 45's are still on and the road is wet and the sun is out, and it's just not giving the drivers honest feedback in terms of the road conditions," Curtis says. "Now, what we're looking at is, by having this type of technology, collecting good information, we can be much more informative to the travelers of what the road conditions are currently, and what may be ahead of them."

The new signs are equipped with solar panels, enabling the state to install them on more rural parts of the interstate system all the way north to Houlton. Curtis also says someday the signs will be paired with radar technology that will show if most drivers are actually slowing down or speeding up so the speed limit signs can be adjusted accordingly.