Eight kilometres of new lanes along Highway 401 in the Cambridge area are now open.
The Ontario government says the expansion from six lanes to 10 includes one HOV lane in each direction – 4.5 kilometres eastbound and seven kilometres westbound.
“Highway 401 is the busiest and most congested highway in North America with up to 150,000 vehicles travelling between Highway 8 and Townline Road every day,” said Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria in a news release.
“The Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge area is among the fastest growing of any large municipality in Canada and expanding Highway 401 in Cambridge will reduce gridlock, enhance safety, boost our economy, and get drivers home to their loved ones faster.”
The project also includes:
- replacing the Hespeler Road bridges
- a new multi-use trail crossing for pedestrians and cyclists along Hespeler Road over Highway 401
- reconstruction of the Hespeler Road interchange
- rehabilitation of the Townline Road Bridge
- expanding the capacity of the Townline Road commuter parking lot from 195 to 297 vehicles
- new lighting and noise barriers
- a traffic management system which includes traffic cameras and traffic counting stations
Cambridge MPP Brian Riddell added the expansion marks a “transformative moment for our region.”
“The additional lanes and HOV options will not only fight gridlock but foster economic growth for Cambridge and the Greater Golden Horseshoe,” he said.
By 2051, the population in the Greater Golden Horseshoe is expected to grow from 10 million to 14.9 million people.
It is estimated that $1.16 trillion worth of goods are transported annually on its highways.
