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Province announces changes to highway construction speed zones

Jan 15, 2019 | 9:10 PM

EDMONTON —  The provincial government has announced changes to speed zones on highway construction sites in Alberta.

Transportation Minister Brian Mason made the announcement during a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

“Ensuring the safety of people working on our highways, whether they’re a tow truck operator or construction people is paramount importance,” Mason said during the conference.

Among the changes announced, contractors working on the highway will be required to cover their speed reduction signs if there are no workers present in the zone and no safety issues for drivers.

“More and more people have talked to me about being frustrated on the highway, when the speed limit is reduced in an area for seemingly no reason,” said Mason. “There are instances where they might get a ticket, a double fine or demerits, even though the stretch of the road they were on had no construction taking place at all, no workers on sight, and nothing that would suggest a lower speed limit was necessary.”

The changes come into effect this spring. Contractors who do not follow the new regulations could lose their safety bonuses, and for repeated offences, they could be fined up to $25,000 and have their entire project shutdown.

Mason adds lane closures on Alberta roads will be limited to a maximum length of three kilometres. Contractors will also be using phased speed reductions to help drivers slow down before they enter construction zones, using tools such as electronic speed displays to portable rumble strips, which Mason says are being used in some places on a trial basis.

“Speed limits must ensure the safe and efficient flow of traffic, with minimal inconvenience to drivers,” said Mason. “If there are no safety hazards, lane closures and speed reductions often don’t make sense. In fact, they can lead to problems with traffic congestion or being tailgated when you’re obeying the speed limit, but the driver behind you is pushing you to speed up. And we need to take driver psychology into account when we make our rules for traffic safety.”

Mason adds the penalties for speeding through a construction zone, which include a doubling in fines and double demerits, will remain in place.