Backgrounder: Highway 401 from Northumberland County Road 2 to County Road 28

For Immediate Release
January 21, 2002

Highway 401 from Northumberland County Road 2 to County Road 28

A Balanced Transportation System

A balanced transportation system is crucial to the continued economic prosperity of our province. The Ontario government made a commitment to building a highway infrastructure system that will sustain and strengthen our growing economy.

This project is the last in a series of five contracts to widen Highway 401 from Highways 35/115 to Port Hope. When completed, it will increase capacity along Highway 401, enhance safety and promote economic prosperity in the Port Hope area.

Highway 401 From Northumberland County Road 2 to County Road 28

This project includes:

widening of Highway 401 from four to six lanes from Northumberland County Road 2 to County Road 28 (approximately 5 km);
installation of a tall wall median barrier, including storm sewer construction;
reconfiguration of County Road 28 interchange;
new traffic signals at Highway 401 east - County Road 28 north/south ramp;
realignment of two ramps at County Road 28 interchange;
resurfacing of Highway 401 for the entire length of the project;
illumination upgrades;
rehabilitation and/or widening of four bridges; and
addition of rumble strips.

Impacts to traffic are expected to be minimal. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction for the majority of the work. Some Highway 401 lane closures and some nightly ramp closures are required to complete the work.

Highway 401 Widening

The previous four projects were completed at a cost of $48.8 million. All projects involved the rehabilitation and widening of the existing Highway 401 from four to six lanes and installation of a tall wall median barrier. The projects included:

Widening Highway 401 from Highway 35/115 easterly 6.7 km to CP Rail. Spring 1997 to Summer 1998;
Widening Highway 401 from 6.7 km east of Highway 35/115 easterly 9.4 km. Summer 1998 to Spring 1999;
Widening Highway 401 from Boundary Road to the Wesleyville Road interchange. Spring 1999 to Spring 2000; and
Widening Highway 401 from Wesleyville Road to Northumberland County Road 2. Spring 2000 to Fall 2001.

Since 1995, the Ontario government has invested almost $6.5 billion on Ontario's provincial highway network.