Canada is expanding higher speed limits on key provincial corridors, with British Columbia and Alberta testing or maintaining 120 km/h zones to manage growing traffic volumes.
British Columbia’s Coquihalla Highway Speed Limits
British Columbia, Canada’s westernmost province situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, maintains a maximum speed limit of 120 km/h (about 75 mph) on a specific segment of the Coquihalla Highway, also known as Highway 5. According to provincial transit documentation, this four-lane route serves as the primary corridor connecting the Vancouver area, or Lower Mainland, to the interior. The 120 km/h limit applies exclusively to the portion running from Hope to Kamloops, while standard provincial highway speeds elsewhere generally cap at 110 km/h (62 mph) or lower.
Alberta’s Queen Elizabeth II Highway Pilot Project
Alberta launched a pilot project in April 2026 to test a 120 km/h speed limit along a nearly 14-mile section of the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, also known as the QEII or Highway 2, between Calgary and Edmonton. According to Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors, the initiative follows a 2025 government survey of over 50,000 residents, in which 70% of respondents agreed that rural divided highways should accommodate the higher limit due to their modern design standards. If the pilot succeeds, the province’s Transportation Minister, Devin Dreeshen, indicated the change could expand to other divided multi-lane routes, including Highway 16 through Edmonton, Highway 1 near Calgary, and Highway 63 to Fort McMurray.
Infrastructure Safety Improvements and Stakeholder Concerns
The push for higher limits has drawn scrutiny from construction and safety advocates. According to the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association (ARHCA), stakeholder groups wrote to Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors to demand that speed changes be paired with infrastructure safety improvements, consistent enforcement, and public awareness campaigns. ARHCA data indicates that motorists already travel substantially faster than posted limits through active construction zones.
To mitigate risks, Alberta’s Transportation Minister, Devin Dreeshen, stated that the province has implemented significant infrastructure upgrades along Highway 2, including extended on- and off-ramps and speed-sloped paving. Meanwhile, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) data shows shifting enforcement metrics, with recorded speeds between 120 km/h and 130 km/h dropping by as much as 71%, while speeds exceeding 140 km/h have increased by 65%. Provincial transportation agencies maintain that these regulatory adjustments are necessary to keep traffic moving efficiently across rural networks.
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