$616M Highway 427 expansion is now open to the public
The expansion of a high-traffic highway north of Toronto opened to the public on Saturday and could save commuters up to 25 minutes in travel time during peak periods.
Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation says the 10-kilometre expansion of Highway 427 from Finch Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on the route.
“I am pleased to announce the new and widened sections of Highway 427 will be open to the public on September 18,” Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney said in a news release issued Thursday. “As part of our vision for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, our government is investing in highway infrastructure to address congestion and keep up with the growing needs of Ontarians.”
The $616 million project was commissioned in 2015 and shovels were in the ground from 2018 to 2021. The expansion sat vacant for a period of time after the consortium building the highway sued the provincial government for not getting paid fairly.
At least 6.6 kilometres of the extension includes eight new lanes from Highway 7 to Rutherford Road and six new lanes to Major Mackenzie, the government said. The expansion means that commuters can save up to 25 minutes in total travel time for a two-way trip during rush hour compared to existing parallel roadways.
A section of four kilometres on the expansion have been widened from Finch Avenue to Highway 7, which includes an upgraded interchange.
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes will be featured in each direction of Highway 427 to further help improve traffic flow, the ministry said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca