Bluewater brings in lower speed limits for urban areas
- May 20
- 2 min read
By Dan Rolph
Drivers in Bluewater’s communities will need to watch their speedometers as speed limits in the municipality’s built-up communities are being reduced.
Under a new bylaw that was passed during the May 4 council meeting, the default speed limit that applies to urban areas in the municipality is dropping to 40 km/h, effectively reducing speed limits in Bluewater’s villages.
Public works manager Dave Kester said the reduced speed limits will impact roads and streets that fall under Bluewater’s jurisdiction, meaning roads that fall under the county’s purview won’t have their limits reduced, such as Main Street in Zurich and Hensall.
“It would be to the county’s (discretion) if they felt the need to change that,” said Kester. “It is under their bylaw that the speed limit is governed.”
The new speed limits come as council continues to hear concerns from residents about speeding in the municipality’s villages.
Bayfield has consistently been an area of concern, and council introduced a pilot project in 2023 that reduced speed limits in that community to 30 km/h. Those lower limits will remain in effect despite the changes to Bluewater’s default urban limits.
Neighbouring municipality South Huron also reduced its speed limits in urban areas to 40 km/h in 2025, including in Dashwood, where part of the community is a part of Bluewater. The change to Bluewater’s default urban speed limits will create a community-wide zone of 40 km/h.
The change to the default urban speed limit will also reduce the required signage in Bluewater’s villages, and the municipality will be installing signs at key entry and exit points.
Councillors had previously earmarked $5,000 in the 2026 budget to cover speed limit signage, and staff estimated that the approved budget will cover the costs of the new signage in Bluewater’s villages.
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