Ontario is set to increase speed limits on most of its provincial highways to 110 km/h, with the changes rolling out from June 26 through September 30. By the end of September, nearly 89 per cent of the province’s highway network will have a posted speed limit of 110 km/h, up from 43 per cent currently, according to provincial officials.
Details of the Speed Limit Increase
The Ontario government announced Wednesday that speed limits will rise from 100 km/h to 110 km/h on many additional sections of provincial highways. This follows a permanent increase on six sections in 2022 after successful pilot programs that began in 2019. Currently, 873 kilometres of provincial highways are posted at 110 km/h, including a stretch from the Tilbury area to the outskirts of Windsor. An additional 938 kilometres will be added starting June 26.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is helping get drivers where they’re going faster and safely,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “We’re going to keep supporting commuters, workers and businesses by investing in our $31 billion plan to build and expand roads and highways, so we can get people and goods moving across Ontario and keep workers on the job.”
Benefits for Drivers and Economy
Drivers travelling from Sarnia to Toronto could save nearly 20 minutes, while those travelling from Toronto to Ottawa could save nearly half an hour, according to officials. More than $380 million worth of goods move along Highway 401 every day, making it one of the province’s critical transportation corridors. The six-lane Gordie Howe International Bridge will connect Highway 401 in Windsor to Interstate 75 in Detroit once it opens, enhancing trade between the United States and Canada.
MPP Anthony Leardi (PC – Essex) said via email: “Most of our Ontario highways are already designed for a speed limit of 110 km per hour. They were designed that way from the beginning. So it makes sense to increase the speed to 110 km per hour on those highways, especially after the Ministry of Transportation conducted technical reviews. It will help people get to where they need to go faster.”
Highways Affected and Timeline
Beginning Friday, speed limits will be increased on sections of Highways 401 and 416 in eastern Ontario, followed by sections on other highways, including the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) and Highways 400, 401, 402, 403, 416 and 417. The province said all highway sections were selected based on their ability to safely accommodate higher speed limits “following rigorous technical reviews and any necessary infrastructure improvements.”
Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan have a maximum speed limit of 110 km/h, while British Columbia’s maximum is 120 km/h. The speed limit increases will take effect incrementally from late June through to September 30.
