A lot of misconstrusion about the 401 tunnel. It is highly unlikely to be a $60 billion project.
The press release detailed the following:
Quote:
Engineering services will be secured through the Ministry of Transportation, with support from Infrastructure Ontario. The feasibility work will include the following:
Examining various options to increase Highway 401 capacity, including potential routes within the existing right-of-way, number of lanes, length, and the number and design of interchanges connecting to other highways;
Refining the province’s understanding of the proposed tunnel’s economic contributions, both in the short- and long-term, as well as the project’s impact on reducing gridlock;
Reviewing best practices from similar projects in other jurisdictions;
Conducting initial soil boring testing to improve the province’s understanding of the route’s geology and its impact on design and construction;
Preparing to start the environmental assessment processes for the project; and
Conducting an initial market sounding, with feedback informing any potential procurement and commercial structuring strategies.
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So a study of the 55km corridor of the 401 through Central Toronto from roughly the 407 eastwards to Pickering. Notably, the westernmost 10km of this corridor was literally just widened from 6 to 12 lanes. It doesn't need a tunnel. The study is looking at how to improve capacity across the corridor, including a potential tunnel for at least part of it. Much of the corridor may end up being widened without a tunnel at all, including the central portions.
It does not mean a 55-kilometre tunnel. I would be surprised if the tunnel ends up being half that length. And as such, will likely not cost anywhere close to $60 billion.
Also - if you drive on the 401, you know how congested it is. A $30 billion 401 tunnel through central Toronto would likely boost GDP by more than $30 billion spent on the Trans-Canada would, by a significant margin.
Ultimately we know basically 0 details about the project and even it's basic scope. The media is having a field day with a couple of sentences in a press release. Let's wait and hear some more details before passing judgement.