The Alberta government has placed new construction zone requirements into effect to allow more traffic flow on the highway.

Any contractors hired to work construction on the highway are now required to cover speed limit signs if there are no workers on site.

Minister of Transportation, Brian Mason, says their biggest complaint was related directly to this.

“One of the major complaints we hear every year is that reduced speed limits are enforced when it’s obvious no work is occurring at the construction site. These changes will make sure our construction workers are safe as they build our roadways, while also helping commuters spend less time in traffic and more time doing the things they love.”

Additional requirements include:

  • More consistent use of road construction signage.
  • Limiting the distance of lane closures in construction zones, in most cases to a maximum of three kilometres.
  • Speed zone reductions reflect potential safety hazards and range from 50 km/hr to 100km/hr, even when workers are not present.
  • More gradual speed reductions through construction zones.
  • Longer distances for speed transition zones in advance of construction zones.
  • More frequent use of electronic speed displays and rumble strips to slow traffic at the actual construction site

Safety will be a continuing priority following the new requirements.

 

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