The 401

[sonysnob]

View looking west from the Don Mills Road overpass in North York over the 401. Construction continues on the new bridges of the Don Mills River, Leslie Street and the GO Richmond Hill Line for the eastbound collector lanes:


https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_cl_374_west_EB_Jul25_42x28.jpg


https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_cl_374_west_WB_Jul25_42x28.jpg

[MolsonExport]

The 401 was a parking lot from the western portions of Milton through to Guelph, in both directions, on both days when I was driving to/from the airport from London.

and of course, the KWC section is under construction as usual (London too).

[Innsertnamehere]

The Kitchener construction should wrap up in the next few months and you will be pleased to hear that there is no more construction planned in Kitchener for at least the next 4 years.

In fact, there is nothing scheduled for the 401 for the next 4 years between Woodstock and Pearson Airport, and between London and Woodstock there are only a few minor bridge rehabilitation and resurfacing projects scheduled which should have relatively minor traffic impacts.

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

In fact, there is nothing scheduled for the 401 for the next 4 years between Woodstock and Pearson Airport

Gosh I really hoped they'd get to the Cambridge-Milton widening, at least with prep work like the last remaining over/underpass replacements.

Also for Kitchener- the Grand River bridge project seems to have taken far longer than I would have expected, especially since the scope of the project didn't really improve/enhance anything like building the missing 8-401 connectors.

[Innsertnamehere]

Not to say plans may change, but MTO is only doing the EA for the widening right now. If the Ministry does proceed with the widening soon, it is likely 3-4 years from construction start anyway to proceed with detailed design, etc.

It also depends when MTO proceeds with the Morriston Bypass, which may be sooner. It just doesn't have a date assigned for it yet.

[sonysnob]

I'm expecting there will be another contract to improve either the south or north leg of Hwy 6 in the vicinity of the 401 over the next few years.

I don't know anything officially, but when the TESR was completed for the Morriston by-pass, the intention was to parse that huge project into a bunch of more manageable sub-projects to bring it to construction. The interchange at Wellington Road 34 will be finished later this summer or fall, so I'm expecting another contract to start for some part of Highway 6 and the 401 either next spring or during the spring of 2027.

But that said, I have no idea how the provincial government is budgeting things this year, and what effect the disruptions to global trade will have on future construction budgets.

[Innsertnamehere]

The 2025 budget did have a meaningful uptick in highway spending for the first time under the Ford government, but likely mostly because spending on the 413 and Bradford Bypass is ramping up. No idea on what will be spent on the bypass.

[jammer139]

New overpass on the 401 and Tremaine Rd in Milton opens.

https://www.haltonhillstoday.ca/local-ne...pens-as-hwy-401-closure-planned-10916334

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

The 2025 budget did have a meaningful uptick in highway spending for the first time under the Ford government, but likely mostly because spending on the 413 and Bradford Bypass is ramping up. No idea on what will be spent on the bypass.

I think the spending has to do with an increase in property acquisitions.

The MTO has recently tendered a contract which should go to construction in the fall for the advanced grading of approximately 100m of embankment within the existing footprint of the 401/407 interchange for Highway 413. I am expecting the premier to do a photo op for this meaningless new grading.

[Innsertnamehere]

yes, probably property acquisitions for those two projects.

I have to say that Ford's bluster on highways has led to surprisingly little to no additional spending on them. He's continued to spend about the same amount as the Liberals did on highways.

His subway program under Metrolinx hasn't struggled as much though, ironically..

Interesting to hear what 413 "early works" project is getting started - the minister has been alluding to one starting this year, and I fully expected it to be a performative contract like you said.


Edit: found the 413 contract:

https://www.raqs.merx.com/public/bulletin/contractView.jsf?id=714312217

Estimated cost: $500,000. Not exactly a large contract..

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

I am expecting the premier to do a photo op for this meaningless new grading.

Well it will have some meaning- as the actual first start of the project. There are far worse things politicians are doing for photo ops these days... anything to relieve the 401 is worth big pomp and circumstance in his mind.

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

I have to say that Ford's bluster on highways has led to surprisingly little to no additional spending on them. He's continued to spend about the same amount as the Liberals did on highways.

His subway program under Metrolinx hasn't struggled as much though, ironically..

The Fords are all about subways. His late brother was nothing but Subways, Subways, Subways!

Say what you want about Douggie, could you imagine if they swapped roles and Rob Ford was premier instead?

[sonysnob]

View looking westerly along Highway 401 from the Highway 28 overpass in Port Hope. The clearing to the north (right) of the highway is for the upcoming replacement of the Ganaraska River Bridge:


https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_cl_464_west_WB_Jul25_42x28.jpg

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by haljackey

Well it will have some meaning- as the actual first start of the project. There are far worse things politicians are doing for photo ops these days... anything to relieve the 401 is worth big pomp and circumstance in his mind.

It doesn't really have meaning. If the 413 were shovel ready, they'd be building more than 100m of ramp platform grading.

It's going to cost more to do this grading than it would if it were part of a bigger project.

But, seeing as Ford has duped you into thinking this contract actually means something, than I guess it's mission accomplished for the premier.

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

But, seeing as Ford has duped you into thinking this contract actually means something, than I guess it's mission accomplished for the premier.

Haha, I wouldn't have even known about it if it wasn't discussed here.

[TownGuy]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

View looking westerly along Highway 401 from the Highway 28 overpass in Port Hope. The clearing to the north (right) of the highway is for the upcoming replacement of the Ganaraska River Bridge:


https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_cl_464_west_WB_Jul25_42x28.jpg

Will the bridge replacement include widening? That little stretch is dangerous as you're coming down a hill then get squeezed by the lack of shoulders.

[Innsertnamehere]

Yes, it will actually be significantly wider to accommodate a future widening to 8 lanes, if ever needed. The new structure will be about 47 metres wide, compared to the existing structure which is about 29 metres wide.

[TownGuy]

Good to know. Much needed. I'd imagine the 401 would be widened to 6 lanes east of Cobourg before 8 laning to the west would happen. The 4 lane stretch is a bit of a nightmare.

[Innsertnamehere]

Yes, I don't see that stretch seeing added lanes for many decades. MTO typically widens bridges when they replace them to protect for it in the future however, and it makes construction staging easier as well. In this case they will build one half of the bridge first, shift the 6 lanes onto it, demolish the existing bridge, then build the second half. This results in some excess structural width to accommodate that staging.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

It doesn't really have meaning. If the 413 were shovel ready, they'd be building more than 100m of ramp platform grading.

It's going to cost more to do this grading than it would if it were part of a bigger project.

But, seeing as Ford has duped you into thinking this contract actually means something, than I guess it's mission accomplished for the premier.

Seems like an odd response, and needlessly aggressive to be saying Haljackey was "duped" by Ford. He never said it was a huge big deal, but the start of a new highway isn't nothing, even if it's not a major step yet.

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Seems like an odd response, and needlessly aggressive to be saying Haljackey was "duped" by Ford. He never said it was a huge big deal, but the start of a new highway isn't nothing, even if it's not a major step yet.

It’s a made up contract that serves no other purpose than giving Ford a photo
-op.

I understand that its politics and politicians of all political stripes do so.

Defending practices such as this seems stupid to me. Haljackey’s response seemed to defend Ford’s politicking. I thought that was kind of a dumb thing to defend so I wrote my response. I even waited a day before I responded.

I’ve met Haljackey in real life, I have no qualm with him. I thought his response totally missed the plot. I think Haljackey’s responses often miss the plot, so I responded.

It’s a discussion forum, I’m allowed to respond.