Kazakhstan raises highway speed limits to 120 km/h on key toll routes

Speed limits on key highways in Kazakhstan have been increased as part of recent traffic adjustments. The changes affect the Western Europe–Western China International Transport Corridor, with new rules in place since May 19, 2026. Drivers can now travel faster on certain paid stretches, but enforcement has also seen temporary changes. KazAvtoZhol JSC raised the speed limit on two major highways: the Kainar–Taraz and Taraz–Shymkent routes. Both now allow a maximum of 120 km/h, up from the previous 110 km/h cap. The adjustment applies only to toll sections of the Western Europe–Western China corridor.

However, average speed monitoring on the Taraz–Shymkent stretch has been paused since the new limit took effect. While cameras are inactive, fines for speeding violations now fall under local authorities’ control. The decision follows a review of traffic flow and safety on these routes. Officials have not yet announced when monitoring will resume or if further changes are planned.

Drivers on the Kainar–Taraz and Taraz–Shymkent highways can now legally travel at 120 km/h. The suspension of average speed checks means enforcement relies on local oversight for now. The changes reflect ongoing efforts to balance efficiency and safety on Kazakhstan’s key transport routes.