Ontario announces that Highway 413 is going ahead

Despite environmental objections from several groups, Ontario is moving ahead with plans to build Highway 413, a new 400-series highway across the Halton, Peel and York regions.

The purpose behind this new transit corridor is to relieve gridlock, improve the movement of goods and cut commute times. It will also create plenty of jobs.

“With Halton, Peel and York regions all set to grow at incredible speed, our government is saying yes to building the roads and highways that will keep these communities moving,” said Premier Doug Ford.

He added that thousands of jobs will be created by this project, which is a key component of the province’s “Building Ontario” plan to beef up infrastructure.

Ontario expects Highway 413 to benefit the Greater Golden Horseshoe area in many ways, including attracting increased investment in auto manufacturing and other industries.

“Highway 413 will save drivers up to 30 minutes each way on their commute, adding up to one hour per day and five hours per week in people’s schedules. This relief will be the difference between sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic and having dinner with your family at home,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation.

The highway will run from Highway 400 in the east to the Highway 401/407 express toll route interchange in the west, and will feature four-to-six lanes, separate infrastructure dedicated for transit and passenger stations, and intelligent transportation and truck parking.

Preliminary design for the preferred route has already begun.

“Investing in transportation infrastructure, like Highway 413, will not only improve our productivity and encourage economic growth by allowing goods to get to market faster, it will also have a measurable impact on the quality of life for Ontario drivers so they can spend more time with friends and family,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance.

Quick Facts

• As part of the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario, the government committed to expand and repair highways and bridges and spur economic growth. The government has allocated approximately $2.6 billion in funding for 2021–22 in support of the Ontario Highways Program, which features more than 580 expansion and rehabilitation projects, including funding to advance Highway 413.
• One of the fastest growing regions in North America, the GGH is expected to attract one million new people every five years, reaching nearly 15 million by 2051. Addressing transportation needs in the region is essential to the competitiveness of the economy.
• By 2031, the overall traffic on this route is expected to exceed 300,000 vehicle trips per day while cutting commute times by up to 30 minutes for someone travelling the full length of the route when compared to the time it would take via Highways 401 and 400.
• Upcoming Public Information Centres (PICs) will be held in December 2021 for public feedback on the project. In addition, Indigenous communities and the public will continue to have opportunities to provide input into the design of the proposed Highway 413 and Community Value Plans will be developed.
• Ontario’s economy is recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and is poised to keep growing. For 2021–22, the government is projecting a deficit of $21.5 billion, $11.6 billion lower than the outlook published in the 2021 Budget. This improvement reflects a stronger economic growth outlook, as well as more recent information about the impact of COVID-19 on the province’s finances.