Ontario to permanently raise speed limit to 110 km/h on 10 more sections of highways

HAMILTON — Ontario is permanently raising the speed limit on 10 sections of highways across the province. 

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said several sections of Highways 401, 403, 406, 416 and Highway 69 will have a speed limit of 110 kilometres per hour.

"Much of Ontario's highway network was originally designed for speed limits of 110km/h or to safely have them with minimal upgrades," Sarkaria said in a news conference on Wednesday. "Data from our speed limit increases in 2022 show they are doing just that."

The province permanently increased 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 stretches of highways affected are in eastern Ontario, southwestern Ontario and near Sudbury, Ont.

The increased speed limits will cover 860 kilometres, or about 36 per cent, of Ontario's highways that have a speed limit of 100 km/h or higher.

"What many people don't realize is, until 1975, highways 400, 401, 417 and the QEW had speed limits over 110 km/h until they were reduced in response to the energy crisis," Sarkaria said.

A number of other provinces have maximum speed limits of 110 km/h, while British Columbia has some roads with a maximum speed limit of 120 km/h.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2024.

The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version, based on information provided by the government, incorrectly said the increased speed limits will cover 860 kilometres, or about 36 per cent, of Ontario's highways. In fact, the increased speed limits will cover 36 per cent of Ontario highways with limits of 100km/h or higher.