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Widening Highway 401 Benefits Woodstock Community
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WOODSTOCK, ON, Aug. 18 /CNW/ - A $40.8 million investment to widen
Highway 401 in the Woodstock area will benefit residents and workers at the
new Toyota plant, Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield announced today.
"This is a major project under the McGuinty government's $3.4 billion,
five-year Southern Ontario Highways Program," said Cansfield. "The program is
strategically designed to support Ontario industry by providing an efficient
transportation system upon which their goods can safely travel."
The widening of Highway 401 between Highway 403 and Oxford Road 2 will
provide easier and safer access to the new $1.1 billion Toyota plant in
Woodstock, and improve traffic flow for local residents and future workers.
Aecon Construction and Material Limited was awarded the $40.8-million
construction contract and work is expected to be complete by November 2007. To
minimize disruption to drivers, Highway 401 construction will be done during
off-peak hours with short-term lane closures. At times, access to the Oxford
Road 2 and Towerline Road interchanges will be limited. Signs are posted to
direct motorists to detour routes.
This is one of three phases to complete the six-laning of Highway 401
between Woodstock and Cambridge, for a total investment of $120 million.
"Moving goods and people quickly, efficiently and safely is vital to our
economy and to our quality of life," said Minister of Public Infrastructure
Renewal David Caplan. "The 401 is a vital part of Ontario's highway system,
which carries $1.2 trillion worth of goods to markets annually. Exports are
the lifeblood of our economy, and over 70 per cent of the value of Canada's
international trade, travelling by road, flows into the United States across
Ontario's borders."
"This Toyota assembly plant is the first new auto plant in Canada in more
than two decades," said Economic Development and Trade Minister Joseph
Cordiano. "This investment has already led to a $50 million parts plant in
Simcoe and will help our economy keep growing."
"This project is great news for Woodstock residents and businesses," said
Woodstock Chamber of Commerce President Sheri Knott. "Highway 401 is a key
transportation corridor. These upgrades will ease congestion, provide safer
access to Highway 401 and help goods get to market on time."
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The McGuinty government has taken a proactive approach to auto sector
investment. Sucesses include:
- $768 million investment from DaimlerChrysler in Brampton and Windsor
- $1 billion investment from Ford in Oakville
- $1.1 billion Toyota assembly plant to Woodstock, the first new
assembly plant site in Canada in two decades and a source of 2,000
new jobs
- $2.5 billion investment from General Motors Beacon Project creating
500 new jobs in Oshawa, Ingersoll and St. Catharines
- $270 million investment for Navistar, saving the Chatham plant in the
process
- $154 million investment from Honda in Alliston that will create 340
jobs
- Partnership with two major auto parts companies resulting in a
$1 billion investment from Linamar and a $100 million project from
Nemak.
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The Southern Ontario Highways Program, announced spring 2006, is part of
ReNew Ontario and the McGuinty government's long-range plan to ensure a strong
economy and high quality of life for Ontario families. As part of this
initiative, the government will expand the highway system by about
130 kilometres, add or replace 64 bridges and repair about 1,600 kilometres of
highways and 200 bridges across Southern Ontario.
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
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www.mto.gov.on.ca
Backgrounder
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ONTARIO SUPPORTS AUTO INDUSTRY FOR A STRONGER ECONOMY
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As part of its $3.4 billion, five-year Southern Ontario Highways Program,
the McGuinty government is investing $40.8 million to improve Highway 401
around the Toyota plant in Woodstock. Improving this section of Highway 401
will keep goods moving on Canada's busiest highway and improve traffic for
local residents. This is one of the three projects to complete the six-laning
of Highway 401 between Woodstock and Cambridge, for a total investment of
$120 million.
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Construction along this stretch of highway includes:
- Widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes including the
installation of concrete median barriers to enhance safety and
improve traffic flow
- Replacing ramps at the Towerline Road interchange and the
Oxford Road 2 interchange for easier and safer access to the highway
- Replacing the Towerline Road and the CNR bridges to improve road
safety
- Repaving sections of Highway 401 and upgrading lighting, guide rails
and traffic signals to improve driving conditions.
Construction along Highway 401 in Woodstock is another initiative in the
McGuinty government's long-range plan to ensure a strong economy and high
quality of life for Ontario families.
Over five years, the Southern Ontario Highways Program will ease
congestion and improve safety through:
- 130 kilometres of new highway
- 64 new or replacement bridges
- 1,600 kilometres of repaired highway
- 200 repaired bridges.
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Construction initiatives under the five-year plan include:
Widening Highway 401 from Woodstock to Cambridge from four to six lanes:
Every day more than 43,300 vehicles, including 12,900 trucks carrying 50 per
cent of trade with the US, use this corridor. The changes make the area more
accessible and therefore, more attractive to economic growth.
Expanding Highway 401 from Windsor to Tilbury from four to six lanes:
Every day more than 24,000 vehicles travel this route, which leads to
Ontario's busiest border crossing in Windsor. Expanding 36 kilometres 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 Place from two to four
lanes: Improvements on this highway improves safety and traffic flow.
Adding High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW)
from Oakville to Burlington, pending environmental approval: This project will
add almost 17 kilometres of new HOV lanes to the QEW over the next several
years.
Adding High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to Highway 417 from Highway 416
to Eagleson Road in Ottawa: This project will add almost 14 kilometres of new
HOV lanes to Highway 417 over the next several years. Drivers can expect less
congestion and shorter commute times.
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 get travellers to recreational destinations in the area faster.
Widening Highway 3 from Leamington to Windsor from two to four lanes and
four to six lanes: Expanding this 33-kilometre stretch of highway improves
safety and eases traffic flow for motorists travelling towards the
Windsor-Detroit border crossing.
Contact:
Bob Nichols
Ministry of Transportation
416-327-1158
Disponible en français
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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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