No. H 229/07
For release - December 3, 2007

IMPROVEMENTS TO HIGHWAY 401 BETWEEN HIGHWAY 77 AND ESSEX ROAD 27 NOW COMPLETE

WINDSOR — Phase three of the five-phase project to widen 46 kilometres of Highway 401 from Windsor to Tilbury, in Essex County, has been completed, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, along with Jim Bradley, Ontario Minister of Transportation, announced today.

"Completion of the third phase of the project to widen Highway 401 from Windsor to Tilbury will help improve safety and keep goods and people flowing through this important trade corridor," said Minister Cannon. "The completion of this phase reflects this government's commitment to improving transportation infrastructure across the country."

"The McGuinty government is committed to reducing congestion, enhancing road safety and strengthening our business through strategic investments in Ontario's highway and transit infrastructure," added Minister Bradley.

Both governments are investing more than $330 million to improve 46 kilometres of Highway 401 between Windsor and Tilbury. The first three phases of this five-phase project are now complete.

"This project is helping improve the safety, efficiency and capacity of this important highway that leads to the busiest commercial land border crossing in North America," said Jeff Watson, MP (Essex).

"Every day, thousands of vehicles travel this section of Highway 401, which leads to Ontario's busiest border crossing in Windsor," said Bruce Crozier, MPP (Essex). "The people and businesses of Essex County will greatly benefit from the improved safety and traffic flow on this important stretch of highway."

Phase one was completed in December 2005, and involved widening and improving Highway 401 between Essex Road 42 and Highway 77. The second phase included improvements to Highway 401 from Puce Road to Manning Road and was completed in November 2006. Drivers have already benefited from improved safety and traffic flow on these important stretches of highway with the additional lanes, a concrete median barrier and improved signage.

The third phase was completed on November 30, 2007. It included:

• the widening of Highway 401 between Highway 77 and Essex Road 27 from four to six lanes and the installation of a concrete median barrier;
• the replacement of the St. Joachim Road (French Line Road) bridge;
• the rehabilitation and widening of the Ruscom River bridge;
• the rehabilitation of the Rochester Townline Road and 3rd Concession Road underpass structures;
• upgrades to highway signs; and
• upgrading of the Windsor South Truck Inspection Station to a commercial vehicle inspection facility.

The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario funded the first three phases of this project under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program. Under the program, both governments are investing more than $490 million in highway improvement projects across the province.

Through the Border Infrastructure Fund, the federal and provincial governments are undertaking the fourth phase of Highway 401 from Highway 3 to Manning Road as part of the Let's Get Windsor–Essex Moving strategy. Construction of this fourth phase is underway and is expected to be completed in 2010.

Design work for the fifth phase is currently underway.

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BACKGROUNDER

CANADA AND ONTARIO MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO HIGHWAY 401 IN ESSEX COUNTY

Highway 401 Widening from Windsor to Tilbury

The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario are investing more than $330 million to widen Highway 401. The work involves five phases:

Phase One — Essex Road 42 to Highway 77

With an investment of $61 million, construction of this section of Highway 401 has been completed and improvements include:

• widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes to reduce congestion;
• installing a concrete median barrier to enhance safety; and
• improving the Essex Road 42 and Highway 77 interchanges, including commuter parking lots, new lighting and turning lanes on both Highway 77 and Essex Road 42.

Phase Two — Manning Road to Puce Road

With an investment of $52 million for improvements to this section of the highway, construction has been completed. Improvements include:

• widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes to reduce congestion;
• installing a concrete median barrier to enhance safety;
• improving the Manning Road and Puce Road interchanges to increase safety and traffic flow;
• adding a new service road and commuter parking lot at the Manning Road interchange; and
• six structure rehabilitations, two structure replacements and one interchange improvement.

Phase Three — Highway 77 to Essex Road 27

With an investment of more than $61 million, work has been completed. Improvements include:

• widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes to reduce congestion;
• installing a concrete median barrier to enhance safety;
• replacing the St. Joachim Road (French Line Road) bridge, rebuilding the ramps and adding lighting at the interchange;
• rehabilitating and widening the Ruscom River bridge;
• rehabilitating two underpass structures; and
• upgrading the Windsor South truck inspection station to a commercial vehicle inspection facility.

Phase Four — Highway 3 to Manning Road

With an investment of more than $100 million, work is underway and is expected to be completed in 2010. Improvements include:

• widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes to reduce congestion;
• installing a concrete median barrier to enhance safety;
• replacing the Dougall Parkway, Walker Road, Provincial Road and railway bridges;
• rehabilitating five underpass structures; and
• upgrading high mast lighting.

Phase Five — Puce Road to Essex Road 27

Detailed design is underway to allow for work to be tendered in spring 2008. Improvements will include:

• widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes to reduce congestion;
• installing a concrete median barrier to enhance safety;
• improving and widening the Belle River Road interchange bridge;
• rebuilding the ramps and adding lighting at the Belle River Road interchange; and
• building a new commuter parking lot at the Belle River Road interchange.

Phases one to three were funded through the Canada–Ontario Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, a federal-provincial funding program for transportation infrastructure improvements in Ontario.

Through the Border Infrastructure Fund, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario are undertaking the detailed design and construction of phase four from Highway 3 to Manning Road as part of the Let's Get Windsor–Essex Moving strategy.

Let's Get Windsor–Essex Moving strategy

The Let's Get Windsor–Essex Moving strategy is a $300-million shared investment by the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario to improve traffic flow to existing crossings, and address congestion and security issues at the Windsor–Detroit Gateway.

Completed projects announced as part of the strategy include:

• a pedestrian overpass on Huron Church Road at Assumption High School;
• implementation of intelligent transportation systems, such as cameras and changeable message signs, to improve traffic management, video monitoring and driver information;
• advance utility relocations and detour improvements to facilitate the current Walker Road rail grade separation construction;
• intersection improvements on Huron Church Road at Industrial Drive to facilitate access to the United States Customs truck pre-processing facility; and
• advance construction on Manning Road from County Road 22 north to the VIA tracks.

The environmental assessment and detailed design stages of several additional projects are underway, namely:

• improvements to Manning Road from Highway 401 to County Road 22;
• improvements to the Canadian plaza of the Windsor–Detroit Tunnel; and
• a road-rail grade separation on Howard Avenue south of Memorial Drive.

For more information on the status of the Let's Get Windsor–Essex Moving strategy, please visit www.mto.gov.on.ca.

Border Transportation Partnership

The governments of Canada and the United States, along with the Province of Ontario and the State of Michigan are continuing to work together on the planning for a new border transportation system in the Windsor–Detroit area.

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation, in partnership with Transport Canada, is leading the Canadian portion of the Detroit River International Crossing study, which is seeking a long-term solution to border transportation issues. This thorough and systematic study is being coordinated with a similar study in the United States. Together, these studies will identify the location for a new international crossing, plazas and access roads, as well as provide the necessary documentation required for approvals under environmental legislation in both countries.

For more information on the status of the Detroit River International Crossing study, please visit www.partnershipborderstudy.com.

December 2007