Town of Milk River Council review provincial speed limit pilot program

Posted on April 9, 2026 by admin

By Heather Cameron
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Town of Milk River Council recently reviewed a statement from Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen regarding public support for raising speed limits on divided highways.

In his statement, 2025, Minister Dreeshen stated that the Government of Alberta conducted an online public engagement survey from November 7 to December 12, 2025, that gave Albertans the opportunity to share their views on modernizing speed limits on rural divided highways. That survey, Minister Dreeshen also stated, received a total of 59,400 responses, and preliminary results showed that 68 per cent of respondents who shared thoughts on the matter support increasing speed limits on the highways from 110 km/h to 120 km/h. 

“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 Minister Dreeshen. “Alberta’s divided highways were engineered to safely handle 120 kilometers per hour, and advances in vehicle safety and road design make that even more practical today.”

The government, Minister Dreeshen said, is also encouraged to see that more than 90 per cent of survey respondents who shared thoughts on that matter also support restricting commercial trucks from certain lanes on major highways. 

“This feedback aligns with what we’ve heard from industry, municipal leaders and everyday drivers who want safer, smoother and more predictable traffic flow,” said Minister Dreeshen. 

Minister Dreeshen also said the next step is to take the feedback and ‘test it responsibly’ with the launch of a controlled 120 km/hr multi-trial on select rural divided highways paired with strong monitoring and safety evaluation, a test that is due to launch next year.

“This approach ensures that any future decisions are based on real-world data, local feedback and a clear commitment to keeping our roads safe said Minister Dreeshen. “Albertans have spoken loud and clear. We’re taking that direction seriously, and we will continue to make improvements that support safety, mobility, and economic growth across the province.”