New rules to help ease traffic on highways

EDMONTON New construction zone safety regulations will require contractors to cover up speed-reduction signs on provincial highways when workers are not present and there are no safety concerns.

Alberta Transportation Minister Brian Mason said Tuesday that contractors will have to follow new regulations to help ease traffic through constructions zones.

“I’ve heard a lot, and experienced myself, situations where the speed limits are reduced where there are no workers on site and there is no readily apparent reason to have a speed zone with double fines and double demerits,” said Mason.

The new regulations aim to ease driver’s “constant irritation” and confusion when construction kicks off in the spring. They require speed-reduction signs be covered when workers are not present and there are no safety concerns, such as sharp shoulders, excavations off the roadway or no clear centre divide.

Speed fines and demerit points will not double in these instances, however, they will continue to be doubled when workers are present.

If contractors do not comply, they will be fined between $500 and $25,000 and a complete project shutdown, depending how often they are found to violate the regulations.

Mason said drivers should expect to see more consistent use of road signage regarding lane closures and speed reductions ahead of construction zones. This means rather than a sudden drop to 50 km/h from 100 km/h, there will be phased speed reduction signs to help drivers safely slow down.

“We are also limiting the distances of lane closures where lane closures appear to be much more lengthy than they should be. They will be limited to a maximum of three kilometres,” said Mason.

Mason gave the example of a contractor with a paving contract for 25 kilometres who then places speed reduction zones at both ends of the area. “So you’re driving for 10 kilometres, for 15 kilometres with no construction whatsoever ... and that’s the kind of thing we need to fix,” said Mason.

Other regulations include more frequent use of electronic speed displays and rumble strips to help slow traffic at construction sites.

I’ve heard a lot, and experienced myself, situations where the speed limits are reduced where there are no workers on site.