Pickering, Ontario, November 14, 2012 – Motorists will benefit from easier access to Highway 407 through a new interchange to be constructed at Sideline 26 and Whites Road in Pickering thanks to a joint funding initiative announced today by the governments of Canada and Ontario.
Highway 407 is one of southern Ontario's main transportation corridors and is used by hundreds of thousands of drivers daily. As the world's first all-electronic, barrier-free highway, it stretches 108 kilometres from Burlington in the west, to Pickering in the east. Greater access to the highway will improve the flow of people, goods and services in Pickering.
"Highways and roads are the economic arteries of our communities,"
said Chris Alexander, Member of Parliament for Ajax–Pickering and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence. "By improving access to Highway 407 with this new interchange, our government is promoting continued development in this area, while helping to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to accommodate future growth."
"The construction of this new interchange on Highway 407 is welcome news in Durham Region, especially to families and businesses in Ajax-Pickering,"
said Joe Dickson, Member of Provincial Parliament for Ajax-Pickering. "This new Pickering interchange will create jobs and make the local economy more productive as well as improve the quality of life for families in Durham Region as we grow."
The governments of Canada and Ontario today announced this project will receive a joint investment of up to $25 million towards total eligible project costs. This project was identified as a funding priority in Ontario's 2012-13 Provincial-Territorial Base Fund Capital Plan.
On November 5, 2012, the Honourable Denis Lebel, Canada's Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Transportation announced investments of up to $113.2 million and $111.2 million respectively, towards 19 new infrastructure initiatives across the province under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund.
Under the Building Canada Plan, Canada and Ontario have partnered to provide strategic funding for priority infrastructure needs. Through the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund, the Government of Canada is providing $175 million to strengthen infrastructure in Ontario.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Infrastructure Canada Web feeds, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca
For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit www.ontario.ca/infrastructure.
Contacts:
Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
David Salter
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transportation and Minister of Infrastructure for Ontario
416-327-1815
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
