The Alberta government is set to begin a pilot project testing a 120 km/h speed limit on a section of divided highway, starting Wednesday. The test will take place on a 22-kilometre stretch of Highway 2 south of Leduc, near Edmonton, and will continue throughout the summer.
Background and Purpose
The United Conservative Party (UCP) government had promised to trial a higher speed limit once winter ended. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen announced that the test aims to assess driver behaviour and safety at the increased limit. The chosen route features well-placed overpasses equipped with speed sensors and monitors to collect data.
Data Collection and Safety
Approximately one million vehicles travel this section monthly, providing a substantial sample size. Dreeshen emphasized that the project will generate “a tremendous amount of data points” to evaluate how drivers respond to the change. The divided highways in Alberta are already designed for 120 km/h speeds, and a survey indicated that nearly seven in ten Albertans support the increase.
Key Facts
- About one million vehicles per month use the test section.
- Divided highways are engineered for 120 km/h.
- Four out of ten drivers currently exceed 110 km/h.
- Calgary’s Deerfoot Trail and ring roads are excluded.
Concerns and Considerations
Some critics warn of increased fatalities, but Dreeshen noted that slow drivers—those going well below 110 km/h in good conditions—also cause accidents. The province will monitor how slower drivers adjust to the new limit. Other highways designed for 120 km/h include Highway 1 (Trans-Canada), Highway 16 (Yellowhead), Highway 43 to Grande Prairie, Highway 63 to Fort McMurray, and Highway 4 to Coutts.
The pilot project is a step toward potentially raising the speed limit on all Alberta divided highways from 110 km/h to 120 km/h, pending the results of this summer’s test.
