Hamilton Independent

The province has not yet said which sections of highway they consider “safe” to raise the speed limit. Photo credit: iStock.

The Ontario government recently announced that they will be moving forward with plans to increase speed limits on all 400 series highways “where it is safe to do so.”

The move will mean the speed limit on these roads will increase from the current 100 km/h to 110 km/h.

They say it “builds on the safe and successful increase in speed limits on more than one-third of 400-series provincial highways to date.”

The province has not said which sections of highway they consider “safe,” although several 400 series roads pass through Hamilton, namely the 403 and the QEW.

However, it is possible that the province could deem parts of Hamilton’s highways “unsafe” due to the increased speed limits.

For example, the QEW includes the Skyway Bridge, which can be difficult to navigate in high winds, especially for trucks.

Additionally, the 403 has one stretch where the speed limit is currently 90 km/h as Highway 6 drivers exit onto the 403, which can be an awkward maneuver since it is in the left lane.

This change follows a pilot project in September 2019 in which the Ontario government raised speed limits in three different locations, including a 32-kilometre section of the QEW from Hamilton to St. Catharines, a 90-kilometre section of Highway 402 from Sarnia to London and the 102- a kilometer-long section of Highway 402 from Sarnia to London. km of territory 417 km from Gloucester to the Ontario-Quebec border.

The Ontario government also conducted a survey in 2019 of more than 8,300 people, with nearly 80 per cent of respondents saying they thought 100 km/h was too slow for 400 series highways.

The government monitored the pilot project and consulted with the Ontario Provincial Police before finally raising the speed limit on 10 more sections of the highway in July 2024.

Newly added in the Hamilton area are the 403 from Brantford to Hamilton (14.5 km), the 403 from Woodstock to Brantford (26 km), and the 406 from Thorold to Welland.

This change meant that 36 percent (860 kilometers) of Ontario’s highway network now has a maximum speed limit of 110 km/h.

The province notes that Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan have set speed limits of 100 km/h on some of their highways, while British Columbia has a maximum speed limit of 120 km/h in some places.

The Ontario government also says they are even developing a “design standard to allow vehicles to safely travel above 120 km/h on new highways.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said at a news conference that raising speed limits on highways is part of his government’s plan to “leave no stone unturned to help combat congestion on our roads, reduce travel times and allow people to spend less time driving.” travel and more time at home.” with their families.”