A sign for Hwy. 402 to Sarnia. (Photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn News)

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Drivers on Highway 402 between London and Sarnia will soon be allowed to drive a little faster.

The pilot project that raises the speed limit on select 400 series highways begins this week. The speed limit will be raised on Thursday to 110 km/h on Highway 402 between London and Sarnia, the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) from St. Catharines to Hamilton, and Highway 417 from Ottawa/Gloucester to the Ontario/Quebec border.

The project, which was announced in May by then Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek, will also include online consultations to get feedback from the public. According to the province, the feedback that is collected will help “inform decisions related to increased speed limits and will be considered in the final decision-making process.”

Ontarians can provide their opinions on the project in an online survey that will be launched by November 23.

“Our government puts people first in every decision we make,” Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney said in a statement issued Tuesday. “That’s why we want to hear first-hand from those who rely on our roads about how we can safely modernize our highways to better fit the needs of the people.”

Although the speed limit will be raised to 110 km/h on the three selected highways, the threshold for a street racing charge will remain 150 km/h.

Transport trucks will continue to be limited to 105 km/h as part of a joint project between the Ontario and Quebec governments.

This will mark the first time 400-series highway speed limits in Ontario have been adjusted since the 1970s when they were lowered from 113 km/h during an oil crisis.

-With files from Miranda Chant