The Ontario government is moving ahead to build Highway 413 after reaching an agreement with the federal government.
“We are delivering on our promise to build Highway 413 with a plan to fix gridlock and get drivers across Halton, Peel and York regions where they need to go faster,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Highway 413 will help meet the needs of our growing province as a prosperity corridor that will create thousands of good-paying union jobs during the construction phase and make life easier and more convenient for millions of drivers in the GTA and across Ontario.”
Ford said when completed the project is a game-changer for commuters. “It’s going to reduce the travel times by 30 minutes each way saving drivers up to an hour per day and five hours per week in one of the most congested corridors in North America.
Some fieldwork is already underway, including borehole drilling and engineering, to evaluate soil composition and bedrock depth. By mid-May, the province will be hosting a market sounding event with key private sector experts to discuss ways to move construction forward quickly and efficiently.
The province will be meeting with property owners to acquire land at fair market value and the Get it Done Act, if passed, will begin expediting land acquisitions in the fall. In addition, the province is planning for the release of the first early works construction contracts to begin building Highway 413 in 2025, subject to all necessary approvals.
“We have a responsibility to ensure Ontario drivers have more time to spend on the moments that really matter in life, not stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Highway 413 will bring much-needed relief to drivers across the GTA and our government is proud to be getting it done.”
The province said the project will contribute $350 million to the province’s GDP and support 3,500 jobs each year.