Concerns raised over highway 402 speed limit increase through Sarnia

Local reaction to the Ontario government's decision to increase the speed limit on a section of highway - CTV London's Bryan Bicknell has the details.

A day after the provincial government announced speed limit increases on provincial 400 series highways, the mayor of Sarnia is sounding the alarm over a stretch of 402 that’s become notorious for truck traffic.

“We’ve had numerous accidents of people going into the backs of vehicles, and that was at the lower speed limit,” exclaimed Mike Bradley.

Bradley says he’s concerned because the speed limit on Highway 402 from Waterworks Road to just east of Colborne Road through Sarnia is about to jump to 110 kilometres per hour. The current speed is 100 km/h through most of the stretch, before it drops to 70 km/h as it approaches the Bluewater Bridge to Port Huron, Michigan. Bradley says local municipalities, including both Sarnia and Point Edward, were never consulted about the increase.

“So, one is concerned, because of the volatile nature of some of the cargo in the trucks here, that the higher speed is not going to be helpful. It’s compounded by the fact that this summer we’re looking for a long hot summer because the Gordie Howe Bridge isn’t open. So, the Bluewater Bridge has become the alternative location.”

He’s referring to the new Gordie Howe Bridge between Windsor and Detroit, which had been scheduled to open this month, but has instead been plagued by delays on the U.S. side of the border.

Sarnia motorists Sue Wright and Laurie Hamill agree, Highway 402 through Sarnia has become increasingly bottle-necked because of truck traffic.

“Any farther, the trucks seem to get backed up there a lot. So, it’s probably going to cause more accidents,” said Hamill.

“And then the trucks tend to block both lanes. So, it makes it really hard for passengers to even get through,” added Wright.

Highway 402 between London and Sarnia was originally one of the test sites for the 110 km/h speed limit. In 2019, a 90 kilometre stretch of the highway became part of a pilot project. The higher speed became permanent in 2022.

According to the provincial government, 876 kilometres of Ontario highways are already at the higher speed. On Wednesday, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria announced an additional 938 kilometres of highway will be boosted to 110 km/h, with the changes taking place between this Friday and the end of September.

The 402 increase through Sarnia kicks in at the end of July.

Also in southwestern Ontario, Highway 402 between Highway 401 and White Oak drive through London jumps to 110 km/h at the same time. While Highway 401 from Chatham-Kent to east of Toronto goes to 110 km/h August 31.