120-km/h speed limit to be given ‘mini trial’ in 2026 on select Alberta highways

The province says it will test a 120 km/h speed limit on some highways next year after a survey found most Albertans support the speed increase.

Following a five-week survey, the Alberta government is looking to increase the highway speed limit from 110 km/h to 120km/h through a “mini trial” next year.

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Select rural divided highways will be chosen for the trial, paired with monitoring and safety evaluation, said a statement from Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors.

“Alberta’s divided highways were engineered to safely handle 120 km/h, and advances in vehicle safety and road design make that even more practical today,” said the minister. “This approach ensures that any future decisions are based on real-world data.”

More than 59,000 people responded to the province’s survey, 68 per cent of which supported increasing highway speed limits to 120 km/h. More than 90 per cent of respondents supported restricting commercial trucks from certain lanes on major highways.

“It’s clear that Albertans are ready for modern, common-sense rules that better reflect how our roads are built and how people actually drive,” said Dreeshen.

The Alberta Motor Association (AMA) said it understands it’s important for Albertans to have safe and efficient mobility.

“Any decision on highway speeds must keep the safety of Albertans first and foremost – and be informed by traffic safety research and supported by public education and enhanced enforcement,” said a statement from AMA.

“We appreciate the minister’s commitment to monitoring safety data and making any permanent decisions based on those things.”