Ottawa drivers who use Highway 416 and Highway 417 to get around the region are seeing a new number on the speed limit signs. According to CTV News, the posted speed limit on sections of both highways has been increased to 110 km/h, up from the standard 100 km/h that's long been the default on Ontario's 400-series and connecting highways.
What's Changing
Highway 416, which runs south from Ottawa toward Highway 401 and the Cornwall/Johnstown areas, and Highway 417, the Queensway that cuts straight through the city and continues west toward Arnprior and east toward the Quebec border, are two of the most heavily used routes in and around the capital. Raising the limit to 110 km/h on select sections means drivers on those stretches can now legally travel faster than they could before — a change that's part of a broader Ontario push to modernize speed limits on highways that meet certain design and safety standards.
Why It Matters for Ottawa
For Ottawa residents, these two highways aren't just through-routes — they're daily commuter arteries. The 417 connects Kanata, Bells Corners, and the west end to downtown and Orleans in the east, while the 416 is the main link for anyone heading toward the airport corridor, Manotick, or points south toward the 401. A bump to 110 km/h on qualifying sections could shave a few minutes off longer commutes and road trips, particularly for drivers heading out of the city on weekends or making the drive toward Toronto or the U.S. border.
It's also a reminder for local drivers to double-check posted signage rather than assume the old 100 km/h limit still applies everywhere. Speed limits can vary section by section, especially where construction zones, merges, or urban stretches of the 417 through the core keep limits lower regardless of the province-wide change.
The Bigger Picture
Ontario has been gradually rolling out higher speed limits on stretches of highway that meet updated engineering criteria, part of a years-long effort to bring some routes in line with speeds already used in other provinces and U.S. states. Ottawa's inclusion in this round means the region's two busiest highways are now part of that shift.
As always, the higher limit applies only where it's posted — drivers should keep an eye on signage along their regular routes on both highways, since not every kilometre of the 416 and 417 is included. Whether you're commuting between Kanata and downtown or making a run down to the 401, it's worth a quick reminder to yourself before your next drive: check the signs, not just your memory of the old limit.
Source: CTV News
