$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
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
China's latest EV is a 'connected' car from smart phone and electronics maker Xiaomi
Xiaomi, a well-known maker of smart consumer electronics in China, is joining the country's booming but crowded market for electric cars.