Ontario Construction News staff writer
Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek says widening a stretch of Highway 401 and installing concrete barriers will improve safety for drivers.
The $67.8 million project is part of the province’s larger initiative to widen and install concrete barriers on 125 km of Highway 401 between Tilbury and London, creating more local construction jobs.
“Everyone in our community knows how vital Highway 401 is to the success of Southwestern Ontario,” said Yurek. “Widening Highway 401 and installing concrete median barriers will make our roads safer and continue to keep people and goods moving in the region.”
Coco Paving Inc. has been selected to widen the section of highway from four to six lanes, add concrete median barriers and a new storm sewer system. The concrete barriers will enhance safety by helping to reduce the likelihood of cross-median collisions. Construction could start as early as the end of this year.
“By widening Highway 401 in Tilbury and installing concrete barriers, we are helping to keep our families safe on our roads while ensuring the safe movement of goods on our important trade corridor,” said Caroline Mulroney, minister of transportation.
“This is part of our government’s plan to build a better transportation network, encourage economic growth and connect communities in southwestern Ontario.”
Ontario is developing regional plans across the province, starting with Connecting the Southwest: A Draft Transportation Plan for Southwestern Ontario, which was released in January 2020.
Highway 401 is part of the Windsor–Quebec corridor, which includes two-thirds of the freight transported by commercial vehicles between Ontario and the United States.