Highway 401 speed limits to increase in July

MORRISBURG – Travelling on Highway 401 through South Dundas will be a little quicker starting in July.  

The Ontario government announced April 24 that 10 more sections of its 400-series highways will see a speed increase to 110 kilometres per hour. 

“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,” said Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria in a press release. Many of the 400-series highways were built before Canada converted to metric and had a posted speed limit of 70 miles per hour (113 km/h). 

A 108 km long section of the 401 from the Highway 16 interchange at Johnstown, east to the Ontario/Quebec provincial boundary will increase to 110 km/h on July 12.

Addtionally in the region, Highway 416 from Highway 401 in Johnstown to Highway 417 in Ottawa will also increase to 110 km/h.

Four additional sections of the 401 will see speed increases. An already increased section Tilbury near Chatham will extend east by seven kilometres. A 35 km section from Highway 35/115 in Bowmanville to Cobourg, and a 44 km section from Colborne east to Belleville will increase. Lastly, the highway between Belleville and Kingston will increase. 

Speed limits will also increase on Highway 401 from Woodstock to Brantford and from Brantford to Hamilton; Highway 406 from Thorold to Welland; and Highway 69 from Sudbury to French River. 

The province says that stunt driving penalties will continue to apply at 150 km/h.