News Release: Ontario government upgrades Highway 89 and the Highway 89 / 400 interchange

For Immediate Release
October 31, 2000

Ontario government upgrades Highway 89 and the Highway 89 / 400 interchange

ALLISTON - Two projects with a total value of $5 million to upgrade a stretch of Highway 89 at Alliston and another at the Highway 89 /400 interchange at Cookstown were announced today by Transportation Minister David Turnbull, Joe Tascona, MPP for Barrie-Simcoe-Bradford and the Honourable Jim Wilson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey.

"In an increasingly global economy, good highways truly are roads to prosperity," said Turnbull. "The Ontario government continues to invest in safe and efficient highways to support jobs and growth across Ontario."

The first, a $2.1-million project was awarded to Harnden & King Construction Limited of Downsview. The project includes widening on Highway 89 to four lanes for 1.3 kilometres, construction of turning lanes, new traffic signals and lighting at Simcoe County Road 10 at Alliston.

The second, a $2.9-million project was awarded to LaFarge Construction Limited of Barrie. The project includes raising of the grade on the Highway 89 approaches to the Highway 400 bridge to improve driver sight lines; new turn lanes; installation of traffic signals and lighting at the two Highway 400 ramp terminals; construction of a new turn lane at the Fifth Sideroad and reconstruction and expansion of the existing commuter parking lot.

"Upgrading these two stretches of Highway 89 will ease traffic flows and access to and from the highway at peak periods," said Tascona. "Drivers will also enjoy higher levels of safety as winter approaches."

"These upgrades are a welcome announcement to the residents in my riding," said Wilson. "I have heard numerous concerns about safety issues along Highway 89 and these improvements will address those concerns by easing traffic flows."

Work on both these projects are under way, with completion slated for early November 2000.

This investment is part of the government's five-year, $20-billion SuperBuild initiative. The program is designed to build for the future by improving capital planning, priority setting and investment. The government's goal is to make the entire capital investment process more strategic, more responsive and more accountable. SuperBuild will facilitate the largest infrastructure building program in Ontario's history, so that the province's infrastructure is ready to meet the future needs of Ontarians.