Speed limits increasing on sections of Hwy. 7, 416, and 417 this summer

The Ontario government will be bumping up speed limits on sections of provincial highways near Ottawa. CTV’s Kimberley Fowler reports.

The Ontario government is increasing the speed limit on several provincial highways this summer, including in the Ottawa region.

In a news release, the province says a section of Highway 416 between Cedar Grove Road and Highway 401 will see its speed limit increase to 110 km/h as of Friday, as will a stretch of Highway 401 east of Kingston, between Highway 15 and Highway 16.

Starting Aug. 21, four more sections of provincial highways in the region will have speed limits increased to 110 km/h:

• Highway 7 from Appleton Side Road/County Road 17 to Highway 417
• Highway 416 from 1.5 km south of Highway 416/417 to Fallowfield Road/County Road 12
• Highway 417 from Leitrim Road to Ottawa Regional Road 174
• Highway 417 from Highway 416/417 Interchange to Highway 7

This follows speed limit increases in eastern Ontario in 2022 and 2024, including much of Highway 416 and Highway 417.

• READ MORE: About 90 per cent of Ontario highways will soon have a posted speed limit of 110 km/h

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is helping get drivers where they’re going faster and safely,” said Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, in a news release on Wednesday. “We’re going to keep supporting commuters, workers and businesses by investing in our $31 billion plan to build and expand roads and highways, so we can get people and goods moving across Ontario and keep workers on the job.”

The province says the changes, once complete, could reduce travel times between Toronto and Ottawa by approximately 30 minutes.

“Drivers are reminded that exceeding posted speed limits or driving too fast for conditions continues to be a leading factor in serious collisions,” OPP Sgt. Erin Cranton told CTV News in a statement.

• Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App