[michaelt]

Generally, the relationship between a map company and the local government isn't adversarial. If the government tells the map company "the speed limit of this road is x" or "this bridge has a height limit of y" or "this road is access-only for heavy trucks" then the map company will just take that as true.

After all, if you can't trust the posted signs because of residents putting up fake signs, what is the canonical source of information on what's legal?

If the local residents have got the local government to change the legal status of the roads, which is what the article makes it sound like, you can hardly blame Google for doing what the government tells them to do.