Highway 43 (Photo: dreamstime.com)

By Shaun Penner/EverythingGP

SPEEDING THINGS UP

UCP MLA introduces bill to raise speed limit to 120 km/h on divided highways

Mar 11, 2021 | 4:53 PM

A UCP MLA has brought forward a bill in the legislature that looks to up the maximum speed limit on some provincial freeways to 120 kilometres per hour.

Spruce Grove-Stony Plain MLA Searle Turton introduced Bill 213 in the legislature on Wednesday, the Traffic Safety (Maximum Speed Limit for Provincial Freeways) Amendment Act, which aims to raise the limit on freeways in Alberta that the Ministry of Transportation deems safe to do so from 110 km/h to 120 km/h.

Turton says he brought the bill forward after his research suggests higher speed limits on certain freeways would not lead to safety concerns and would better synchronize driving speeds between posted limits.

“Bill 213 would allow motorists to use our freeways at the speeds they were designed and engineered for and match posted speed limits with the realistic speeds commuters follow. Evidence shows this would make our freeways safer,” Turton said.

“This bill, if passed, would keep people moving in a safe and thoughtful way.”

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Highways in Alberta that would be impacted by this bill include divided highways outside of urban areas that the Department of Transportation deems safe. The proposed legislation would not affect freeways within urban areas.

The bill passed first reading Wednesday night. It must pass the second reading, the Committee of the Whole, and third reading, then receive Royal Assent to be brought into law.