Section 48 of the Transportation Act is used to designate some highways as “controlled access highways”. These are usually numbered routes and are intended to carry higher volumes of inter-regional traffic. The Ministry has developed a Controlled Access Strategy which applies along controlled access highways and in controlled areas.

The intent of Controlled Access highways and Controlled Areas is to preserve a reasonable level of service to long-trip vehicles on the major highway and street system, and to enhance safety.

It is intended to:

• promote a balanced hierarchy of road facilities in all areas
• discourage urban sprawl in rural areas
• limit points of access to trunk high-speed highways
• regulate land use within the controlled area