No. H 034/07For release March 9, 2007
WINDSOR -- The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, along with the Honourable Donna Cansfield, Ontario Transportation Minister, today announced the completion of phase two of the widening of Highway 401 from Windsor to Tilbury, in Essex County.
"This multi-phase project will improve traffic flow and safety on this important stretch of Highway 401, which leads to Canada's busiest commercial border crossing," said Minister Cannon. "The completion of phase two of this project is another example of governments working together to achieve results for Canadians."
"The McGuinty government is committed to improving Ontario's infrastructure through record investments in our Highways and public transit systems," said Minister Cansfield. "Improvements to this area of Highway 401 will keep our people and goods moving and our economy strong."
Both governments are investing more than $310 million to improve 46 kilometres of Highway 401 between Windsor and Tilbury. The first and second phases of this project are now complete.
Phase one of the Highway 401 Windsor to Tilbury project was completed in December 2005, and involved widening and improving Highway 401 between Essex Road 42 and Highway 77. Drivers have already benefited from improved safety and traffic flow on this important stretch of Highway with the additional lanes, a concrete median barrier and improved signage.
The second phase of this project, which included improvements to Highway 401 from Puce Road to Manning Road, was completed on November 27, 2006. Investments included widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes, improving both Manning Road and Puce Road interchanges to increase safety and traffic flow, as well as installing a concrete median barrier to enhance safety.
The third phase, which commenced construction in spring 2006 and is expected to be complete by fall 2007, involves improvements between Highway 77 and Essex Road 27, such as:
widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes;
installing a concrete median barrier;
replacing the St. Joachim Road (French Line Road) bridge and rehabilitating and widening the Ruscom River bridge;
rehabilitating the Rochester Townline Road and 3rd Concession Road underpass structures;
upgrading Highway signs; and
upgrading the Windsor South Truck Inspection Station to a commercial vehicle inspection facility.
The first three phases of this project are funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program. Under the program, both governments are investing more than $460 million in Highway improvement projects across the province.
Through the Border Infrastructure Fund, the federal and provincial governments are undertaking the detailed design and construction of the fourth section of Highway 401 from Highway 3 to Manning Road as part of the Let's Get Windsor-Essex Moving strategy. Construction of this fourth phase is expected to begin in spring 2008.
A backgrounder on the improvements to Highway 401 in Essex County is attached.
- 30 -
Contact:
Natalie Sarafian Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa613-991-0700
Jamie RilettOffice of the Ontario Minister of Transportation, Toronto416-327-9134
Mark Butler Communications Transport Canada, Windsor519-967-4280
Bob NicholsCommunications Branch Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Toronto 416-327-1158
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
Backgrounder
CANADA AND ONTARIO MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO HIGHWAY 401 IN ESSEX COUNTY
Highway 401 Widening from Windsor to Tilbury
The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario are investing more than $310 million to widen Highway 401. The work involves five phases:
Phase One - Essex Road 42 to Highway 77
With an investment of $62 million, construction for this section of Highway 401 has been completed and improvements include:
widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes to reduce congestion;
installing a concrete median barrier to enhance safety; and
improving the Essex Road 42 and Highway 77 interchanges including commuter parking lots, new lighting and turning lanes on both Highway 77 and Essex Road 42.
Phase Two - Manning Road to Puce Road
With an investment of $51 million for improvements to this section of the highway, construction has been completed. In addition to widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes, improvements include:
installing a concrete median barrier to enhance safety;
adding a new service road and commuter parking lot at the Manning Road interchange; and
improving the Manning Road and Puce Road interchanges to increase safety and traffic flow.
Phase Three - Highway 77 to Essex Road 27
With an investment of more than $61 million, work has begun and is expected to be complete by fall 2007. Components include:widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes;
installing a concrete median barrier, drainage system and paved median and shoulders to enhance safety;
replacing the St. Joachim Road (French Line Road) bridge, rebuilding the ramps and adding lighting at the interchange;
widening the Ruscom River bridge;
rehabilitating the Rochester Townline Road and 3rd Concession Road underpass structures;
upgrading highway signs; and
upgrading the Windsor South truck inspection station to a commercial vehicle inspection facility.
Phase Four - Highway 3 to Manning Road
Detailed design is underway with a contract ready for tendering in spring 2008.
Improvements will include:
widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes;
installing a concrete median barrier, drainage system and paved median and shoulders to enhance safety;
replacing the Dougall Parkway, Walker Road bridge, railway and provincial road bridges; and
upgrading high mast lighting on Highway 401 and at the provincial road interchange.
Phases one to three are being funded through the Canada-Ontario Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, a joint federal-provincial funding program for transportation infrastructure improvements in Ontario.
Through the Border Infrastructure Fund, the governments of Canada and the Province of Ontario are undertaking the detailed design and construction of phase four from Highway 3 to Manning Road as part of the Let's Get Windsor-Essex Moving strategy.
Phase Five - Puce Road to Essex Road 27
Detailed design is expected to start in early 2007 to allow for a spring 2008 tendering.
Improvements will include:
widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes;
installing a concrete median barrier, drainage system and paved median and shoulders to enhance safety;
improving and widening the Belle River Road interchange bridge,
rebuilding the ramps and adding lighting at the Belle River Road interchange; and
building a new commuter parking lot at the Belle River Road interchange.
Let's Get Windsor-Essex Moving Strategy
The Let's Get Windsor-Essex Moving strategy is a $300-million shared investment by the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario to improve traffic flow to existing crossings and address congestion and security issues at the Windsor-Detroit Gateway.
Completed projects announced as part of the strategy include:
a pedestrian overpass on Huron Church Road at Assumption High School;
intersection improvements on Highway 3 at Outer Drive and Walker Road;
implementation of intelligent transportation systems, such as cameras, to improve traffic management, video monitoring, and driver information;
advance work at Grand Marais and Walker Road to facilitate traffic staging during the upcoming Walker Road construction; and
intersection improvements on Huron Church Road at Industrial Drive to facilitate access to the United States Customs truck pre-processing facility.The environmental assessment and detailed design stages of several more projects will be complete in 2007:
phase four of the Highway 401 widening from east of Highway 3 to west of Manning Road;
the Canadian section of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Plaza; and
a road-rail grade separation on Howard Avenue south of Memorial Drive.
For more information on the status of the Let's Get Windsor-Essex Moving Strategy, please visit www.mto.gov.on.ca.
Border Transportation Partnership
The Governments of Canada and the United States, along with the Province of Ontario and the State of Michigan are on schedule with the planning for a new border crossing in the Windsor-Detroit area.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation, in partnership with Transport Canada, is leading the Canadian portion of the Detroit River International Crossing study, which is seeking a long-term solution to border transportation issues. This thorough and systematic study is being coordinated with a similar study in the United States. Together, these studies will identify the location for a new international crossing, plazas and access roads, as well as provide the necessary documentation required for approvals under environmental legislation in both countries.
For more information on the status of the Detroit River International Crossing study, visit www.partnershipborderstudy.com.
