Speed limit hike considered on 3 highways

The Manitoba government has shortened the list of highways being considered for a speed-limit increase.

Last summer, the government hired engineers tostudy the potential effects ofraising the speed limit to 110 km/h, from 100 km/h, on a dozen four-lane divided highways around the province.

Now, government officials say they arefocusing on only the busiest and longest roads:

• Highway 75, whichconnects Winnipegandthe U.S border.
• Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, which crosses the provincerunning east-west.
• The Perimeter Highway, which encircles Winnipeg.
  

Those roads are being considered in part because drivers don't like to slow down when they enter Manitoba from neighbouring jurisdictions, said Transportation Minister Ron Lemieux.

"Manitoba wants to be in sync with our neighbours, whether that be North Dakota or Saskatchewan, to ensure that there's some harmony with regard to our speed limits, and I think that's important," Lemieux said.

"We hear often from tourists and many, many others that use our roadways that they want us also to be in harmony with our neighbours. That's the reason why we're pursuing this, but we want to do it in a sure-footed way."

The government has dropped the idea of raising the limit on Highways 7, 8 and 59, which run north of Winnipeg to cottage country, and several other roads, noting they have less traffic.

Supporters of the plan, such as the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, have argued that raising the limit would help speed the movement of goods and people.

Opponents, including the Manitoba Trucking Association, say vehicles burn more fuel at higher speeds and more accidents could occur.

Provincial officials hope to make a final decisionin the fall, to coincide with the expected completion of the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway between Virden, Man.,and the Saskatchewan boundary.