Hwy. 401 speed limit hike takes effect in Tilbury

A hike in the speed limit on Highway 401 in Tilbury has officially taken effect.

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Effective Friday, the limit was permanently raised from 100 km/h to 110 km/h, extending the existing 110 km/h zone further east by seven kilometres.

In April, the Ontario government announced the change for 10 additional sections of provincial highways in northern and southern Ontario.

The province will permanently increase the speed limit to 110 km/h on six sections of provincial highways in 2022 after several successful pilot programs that first began in 2019.

The latest sections, in addition to the Tilbury stretch, include the following:

– Hwy 401 from Hwy 35/115 to Cobourg (approximately 35 km)
– Hwy 401 from Colborne to Belleville (approximately 44 km)
– Hwy 401 from Belleville to Kingston (approximately 66 km)
– Hwy 401 from Hwy 16 to Quebec boundary (approximately 107 km)
– Hwy 403 from Woodstock to Brantford (approximately 26 km)
– Hwy 403 from Brantford to Hamilton (approximately 14.5 km)
– Hwy 406 from Thorold to Welland (approximately 13 km)
– Hwy 416 from Hwy 401 to Ottawa (approximately 70 km)
– Hwy 69 from Sudbury to French River (approximately 60 km)

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Some of the changes will come into force before the end of the year.

All highway sections were selected based on their ability to safely accommodate higher speed limits. Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan have a maximum speed limit of 110 km/h, while in British Columbia, the maximum speed limit is 120 km/h.

In April, when the change was announced, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria reiterated the safety aspect.

“These evidence-based increases are a common-sense change to make life more convenient for Ontario drivers while bringing our highway speed limits in line with other Canadian provinces,” he said.

– With Canadian Press files

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