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Families And Commuters To Benefit From Safer Roads, Less Congestion
TORONTO, June 16 /CNW/ - The Ontario government is improving the quality
of life for Ontario families by launching its Southern Ontario Highways
Program (SOHP), a five-year, $3.4 billion highway construction program,
Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield announced today.
"This program will have a positive and lasting effect upon the lives of
all Ontarians," said Cansfield. "Improving and expanding our highway system
will address growing congestion, combined with our far-reaching investments in
public transit. Ontarians will spend less time in congested traffic and have
more time to spend with family and friends."
Over the next 25 years, an estimated additional two million vehicles will
be on our roads and the time stuck in traffic could increase by four times.
The multi-year SOHP will reduce congestion, improve pavement and bridge
conditions and help maintain Ontario's excellent road safety record by
providing smoother and safer driving conditions. It will also ensure the
$1.2 trillion worth of goods carried on Ontario highways every year get to
market on time.
"Ontario's population is growing by leaps and bounds," said Terry Willms,
president of Ontario Road Builders Association. "This five-year highway
program addresses the needs of our growing province by creating a highway
system capable of supporting higher traffic volumes. These investments will
prolong highway life, improve road safety and reduce wear and tear on
vehicles."
Key construction projects in the five-year program include:
- Widening Highway 401 from Woodstock to Cambridge to improve traffic
flow along this key economic corridor
- Planning for High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on the Queen Elizabeth
Way from Oakville to Burlington pending environmental approval and
along Highway 417 from Highway 416 to Palladium Drive in Ottawa to
help commuters and transit users reach their destinations on time, and
- Widening Highway 7 between Highway 417 and Carleton Place to ease
congestion and improve safety.
"Ontario has the safest roads in North America and our government is
committed to maintaining and improving upon that record," said Etobicoke North
MPP Shafiq Qaadri. "The Southern Ontario Highways Program will ease congestion
and keep our highways in a state of good repair."
The McGuinty government is on the side of Ontario families and commuters
with a plan that includes investing:
- $838 million this year to expand and modernize public transit in the
GTA, including $670 million in a new subway to Highway 7 in York
Region, $65 million this year to help Mississauga develop its
Transitway - a dedicated bus line along Highway 403 and Eglinton
Avenue and $95 million to Brampton to develop its AcceleRide project,
with express bus lanes within the city
- More than $1.4 billion over five years from provincial gas tax funding
into municipalities for new streetcars, buses and transit routes
across Ontario
- $1.8 billion over five years to make sure Northern Ontario highways
are safe and efficient
- $14.3 million in the multi-government $15.7 million Connecting Link
program to give rural residents and business better access to major
highways.
To view the Strategy, please visit
http://files.newswire.ca/6/routesud.pdf.
For up-to-date road condition information on major highways in the area,
visit www.roadinfo.mto.gov.on.ca or call the ministry's road information line
at (416) 235-4686, or toll-free at 1-800-268-4686.
Disponible en français
www.mto.gov.on.ca
Backgrounder
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INVESTING IN SAFE, EFFICIENT HIGHWAYS FOR ONTARIANS
The McGuinty government today announced details of its Southern Ontario
Highways Program. The $3.4 billion, five-year program is expected to improve
quality of life for Ontario families and future generations. The investment
will allow the Ministry of Transportation to:
- Build 130 kilometres of new highway
- Build 64 new bridges
- Repair 1,600 kilometres of highway, and
- Repair 200 bridges.
Construction initiatives under the five-year plan include:
Four to six-lane widening on Highway 401 from Woodstock to Cambridge: The
changes make the area more accessible and therefore, more attractive to
economic growth.
Four to six-lane expansion on Highway 401 from Windsor to Tilbury: Every
day more than 24,000 vehicles travel this route, which leads to Ontario's
busiest border crossing in Windsor. Expanding 36 km of this highway eases
traffic flow and improves safety. This project is jointly funded with the
federal government.
Expanding Highway 7 from Highway 417 to Carleton from two to four lanes:
Widening this highway improves safety and traffic flow.
Planning for High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on the QEW from Oakville
to Burlington, pending environmental approval. This project would add
almost 17 km of new HOV lanes on the QEW. Drivers can expect less
congestion and shorter commute times.
Planning for High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on Highway 417 from
Highway 416 to Palladium Drive in Ottawa: These projects will add almost
14 km of new HOV lanes on Highway 417.
Extending Highway 410 from Bovaird Drive to Highway 10 in Brampton: Work
on this highway will improve travel times giving drivers more time to
spend with their families and friends.
Extending Highway 404 from Green Lane to Ravenshoe Road in York Region:
Changes will reduce the time travelers need to get to recreational
destinations.
The Southern Ontario Highways Program is another initiative in the
McGuinty government's long-range plan to ensure a strong economy and high
quality of life for Ontario families.
Contact:
Bob Nichols
Ministry of Transportation
416-327-1158
Disponible en français
www.mto.gov.on.ca
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For further information: Media Contacts: Neal Kelly, Minister's Office, (416) 327-9134; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, (416) 327-1158; Public Inquiries: (416) 235-4686 (GTA), 1-800-268-4686 toll free, 1-866-471-8929 TTY
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