WINDSOR, Ont. — Construction began recently on phase three of planned road improvements along the Hwy. 401 corridor through a joint funding partnership between the federal and provincial governments.

The two levels of government are investing more than $61 million to improve a 10-km stretch of Hwy. 401 between Hwy. 77 and Essex Road 27, which is expected to be complete by 2007.

“This project will improve traffic flow and provide safety improvements to this important stretch of Highway 401 leading to Canada’s busiest border crossing,” stated Lawrence Cannon, federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “The Government of Canada and its partners look forward to the completion of this great project.”

Construction is now under way and will include the widening of Hwy. 401 from four to six lanes; installing a concrete median barrier; drainage system and paved median and shoulders; replacing the St. Joachim Road (French Line Road) bridge, including widening and repaving of the ramps; widening the Ruscom River Bridge; and improving the Windsor South Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility.

“The future of our province depends on the success of the Ontario economy, and the Highway 401 corridor is an important link to Ontario’s largest international border crossing that carries more than 10,000 trucks and $323 million worth of goods per day,” said Donna Cansfield, Ontario Minister of Transportation. “Along with our partners, we are investing almost $500 million in the Windsor area alone.”

The first phase of the Hwy. 401 Windsor to Tilbury project was completed in November 2005, and involved widening and improving of Hwy. 401 from Essex Road 42 and Hwy. 77. The second phase of improvements to Hwy. 401 from Puce Road to Manning Road, expected to be completed this Fall, involves widening from four to six lanes, improving both Manning Road and Puce Road interchanges and building a median barrier.

This project is funded by the governments of Canada and Ontario under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP). Under SHIP, both governments are investing a total of $336 million for highway improvement projects.