News Release: Ontario government widens stretch of Highway 401 to six lanes

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Ontario government widens stretch of Highway 401 to six lanes

KITCHENER - The award of a $11.2-million project to widen a 4.5-kilometre stretch of Highway 401 to six lanes was announced today by Transportation Minister David Turnbull, Gerry Martiniuk, MPP for Cambridge, Ted Arnott, MPP for Waterloo-Wellington, the Honourable Elizabeth Witmer, MPP for Kitchener-Waterloo and Wayne Wettlaufer, MPP for Kitchener Centre.

"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 contract was awarded to Dufferin Construction Company of Oakville. This project on Highway 401 extends from 2.4 kilometres west of Waterloo Regional Road 28 (Homer Watson Boulevard) easterly to 2.8 kilometres east of Regional Road 8 (King Street). The work will include the widening of Highway 401 from four to six lanes from 1.3 kilometres east of Waterloo Regional Road 28 (Homer Watson Boulevard) easterly to Regional Road 8 (King Street). Work also includes paved highway shoulders; construction of a tall wall median barrier; structural repairs to the King Street overpass; interchange ramp realignments at Homer Watson Boulevard and King Street, as well as highway signing and lighting upgrades.

"Employers, commuters and visitors to the Kitchener-Cambridge area will benefit from the widening of this key section of our major highway link, the 401," said Martiniuk. "When the project is completed next year, drivers will enjoy smoother traffic flows and a higher level of safety."

"Keeping people and goods moving on Highway 401 is one of our government's top priorities," said Arnott. "In addition to creating construction jobs, the work will support business, commercial and manufacturing sectors throughout this area."

"First-class highways are the key to maintaining our economic growth as we move into a new century," said Witmer. "Ontario is investing in highways like the 401 to ensure the road infrastructure can handle increasing traffic demands in our area."

"Good highways help to support tourism in the Kitchener area and improve our quality of life," said Wettlaufer. "Travelers on this stretch of Highway 401 can look forward to a much improved driving environment when work is completed."

Work is scheduled to start in mid-September, with completion in the late summer of 2001.

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.