Achi news desk-
The Ontario government says it will soon raise the speed limit along certain sections of provincial highways, including Highway 401 and Highway 403.
The province confirmed Wednesday that starting this summer, the speed limit will be raised from 100 km/h to 110 km/h on 10 additional sections of provincial highways in both southern and northern Ontario.
While neither segment is in the Greater Toronto Area, Hwy. The 403 from Brantford to Hamilton and Woodstock to Brantford are two areas identified for increased speed limits.
Speeds will also be increased along a 35 kilometer stretch on Route 401 from Route 35/115 to Coburg.
The province says the move “builds on the safe and successful ramp-up to six sections of provincial roads in 2022.”
“Much of Ontario’s highway network was originally designed to safely accommodate speed limits of 110 km/h and data from our 2022 changes show they are doing just that,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario’s minister of transportation, in a written statement.
“The evidence-based increases are a logical change to make life more convenient for Ontario drivers, while aligning our highway speed limits with other Canadian provinces.”
The changes will take effect “on most” of the sections on July 12, and the rest will take place “before the end of the year”.
Speaking at a press conference in Hamilton on Wednesday, Sarkaria said the changes mean about 36 per cent, about 860 kilometres, of Ontario’s highway network will now operate with higher speed limits.
“What many people don’t realize is that until 1975, the 400, 401, 417 and QEW had speed limits of more than 110 kilometers until they were reduced in response to the energy crisis,” Sarkaria told reporters.
Other sections set to increase speed include:
- Hwy 401, Tilbury, extends existing 110km/h zone further east by 7km
- Route 401 from Colburn to Belleville (approximately 44 km)
- Highway 401 from Belleville to Kingston (about 66 km)
- Route 401 from Route 16 to the Quebec border (approximately 107 km)
- Highway 406 from Thorold to Woland (about 13 km)
- Highway 416 from Highway 401 to Ottawa (about 70 km)
- Highway 69 from Sudbury to the French River (about 60 km)
