News Release: Government announces more safety upgrades to Highway 401

For Immediate Release
August 21, 2000

Government announces more safety upgrades to Highway 401

LONDON - As part of the government's Action Plan for Safer Roads, two projects have been awarded for resurfacing, shoulder paving and installation of rumble strips on Highway 401, Transportation Minister David Turnbull, Frank Mazzilli, MPP for London-Fanshawe, Dianne Cunningham, MPP for London North Centre, Bob Wood, MPP for London West and Marcel Beaubien, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex announced today.

"These initiatives are the latest step in my ministry's commitment, through our Action Plan for Safer Roads, to target aggressive drivers and promote safer roads," said Turnbull. "These projects, along with a higher level of commercial vehicle inspection and OPP surveillance, reflect the serious commitment our government has made to enhance the safety of Highway 401 in southwestern Ontario."

This is part of $37.2 million in highway construction projects announced by Turnbull today.

The first project, a $3.5-million contract, was awarded to Capital Paving Incorporated of Guelph. The project includes the resurfacing and paving of the eastbound and westbound outside shoulders with rumble strips on 16.5 kilometres of Highway 401 from 3.2 kilometres west of Highway 4 easterly to 1.2 kilometres east of Highbury Avenue at London.

The second project, a $3.2-million contract, was awarded to Dunn Paving Limited of Tecumseh. The project is for the paving of the outside shoulders with rumble strips on 42.2 kilometres of Highway 401 eastbound and westbound from Essex County Road 46 at Windsor easterly to Essex County Road 42 at Tilbury.

Over the past year the government has improved or added paved shoulders to approximately 91 kilometres of Highway 401 in southwestern Ontario and this fiscal year will continue to invest on highway safety upgrades including paved shoulders, rumble strips, improved signage and raised pavement markers.

"These projects will enhance driver safety and improve the highway for motorists driving in this part of the province," said Mazzilli.

"I am pleased to see this work taking place," said Cunningham. "Upgrading these stretches of Highway 401 will improve highway safety in our area."

"This is welcome news indeed," said Wood. "Making sure the 401 meets top North American standards is key to creating and keeping jobs in the London area."

"This work is part of a commitment our government has made to upgrade Highway 401 in the Chatham-Kent area," said Beaubien. "These improvements will enhance driver safety along this important highway corridor."

Work is under way on both projects, with completion scheduled before the end of the year.

This investment is part of the government's five-year, $20-billion SuperBuild initiative 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 Ontario's people.