Recently, the Government of Ontario announced that it was investing more in the province’s highways. Specifically, the announcement made was in relation to the 18km stretch of road between Mississauga and Milton on Highway 401.
Associate Transportation Minister, Kinga Surma announced that the Ontario Government would be investing $640 in order to widen the highway. The project is already underway, and drivers can expect to be able to start using the new lanes by 2022.
The purpose behind these improvements is to help move people and goods more efficiently. By widening the lanes, it will help to reduce the instances of bottlenecking on that stretch of highway. It will help people get to work on time and help business move freight more efficiently.
According to Surma, the Ontario Government sees the value of investing in Ontario’s highways as a means to make the province more competitive.
When the project is complete, Highway 401 will have:
- 12 core lanes between Credit River and Winston Churchill Blvd.
- 10 lanes between Winston Churchill Blvd. and the interchange of the 407 and 401.
- 12 lanes spanning from the 407/401 interchange to James Snow Pkwy.
- 10 lanes between James Snow Pkwy and RR25.
- Median HOV lanes.
- New and improved facilities for lighting, drainage and signage as well as new carpool lots.
- How will this affect trucking in Ontario?
- According to David Carruth, chairman of the Ontario Trucking Association the 401 is used by more than 20,000 trucks each and every day.
- The improvements to the 401 will facilitate more efficient movement of goods which will help our economy.
- Ultimately, these improvements can help attract new customers to the trucking industry as trucking becomes an even more reliable and efficient form of transport on Ontario roads.
