News Release: SuperBuild Investment in Highway 401 Improvements Will Benefit Northumberland Area

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2002

SuperBuild Investment in Highway 401 Improvements Will Benefit Northumberland Area

PORT HOPE — A $21.1-million project for improvements to Highway 401 in Northumberland County was announced today by Transportation Minister Norm Sterling and Dr. Doug Galt, MPP for Northumberland.

"Our government's record investment in highway infrastructure is fueling economic growth throughout Ontario," Sterling said. "When completed, this project will substantially improve driving conditions, safety and highway operations throughout this area."

The contract was awarded to Graham Bros. Construction Limited of Brampton. The project is on Highway 401 between Northumberland County Road 2 and County Road 28. This contract includes the widening of Highway 401 from four to six lanes, construction of a concrete median barrier and rehabilitation of existing lanes and bridges.

This project is the last in a series of five contracts to construct a concrete median barrier and widen Highway 401 to 6 lanes from Highway 35/115 to Port Hope. Construction commenced in 1997 and upon completion of this final project, the government will have invested approximately $70 million towards these safety and capacity improvements.

"This is exactly the type of infrastructure improvement Northumberland needs so it can grow and prosper in the 21st century," Galt said. "Widening the highway will ease traffic flow and improve traffic safety. The more accessible our area becomes, the more attractive it will be to jobs and investment."

Work is under way, with completion scheduled for the summer of 2004.

Due to the nature of the work, there will be some traffic restrictions on Highway 401. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction for most of the work. There will also be some nightly ramp closures.

This investment is part of the government's five-year, $20-billion SuperBuild initiative designed to facilitate the largest infrastructure-building program in Ontario's history. Since 1995, the Ontario government has invested about $6.5 billion in highway capital projects.