The speed limit on Highway 10 is to be lowered past its busy Orangeville-area intersections.

Orangeville council has received a letter informing them that the Ministry of Transportation will be lowering the limit from 80 to 70 kilometres per hour between a point north of Dufferin Road 109 to a short distance north of the First Street intersection, where the current limit is 60 km/h. The MTO says the reduction is a response to concerns brought to its attention by the Town of Caledon, Town of Mono, Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones and local community agencies.

Critics have noted that although the busiest stretch between the lights at Highway 9 and Broadway was widened significantly to handle the high traffic volumes, the road design requires multiple lane changes, resulting in conflicts between through traffic on 10 and vehicles moving between Highway 9 and downtown Orangeville. As well, there have been a significant number of accidents.

No date for the change has been announced.