TORONTO, (May 17, 2005) — The Ontario Liberal government is sprinkling $1 billion in budget cash all over Southern Ontario’s roads and highways — more than half of which will go to Greater Toronto infrastructure.

The McGuinty government is spending over $620 million for 33 highway projects across the GTA. This will bring over 100 km of new lanes to relieve bottlenecks, 600 km of new pavement for a smoother ride, and 47 km of new carpooling lanes, Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar announced today.

A large chunk of that money will go towards upgrading Hwy. 401, North America’s busiest highway. The highway will get 200 km of new pavement; 36 km of new concrete barriers; repairs on 46 bridges and construction of several new ones; and 12 km of new lanes. Renforth Dr. west of Toronto and Stevenson Road in Oshawa are two key interchanges that will see a lot of the work.

The project also includes widening the QEW in Halton Region and adding carpooling lanes. Busy highways like the 403 and 404 are being widened for carpooling and bus lanes. Also, the fast-growing community in Brampton, Ont. will see Hwy. 410 extended north to Highway 10 in phases.

“Over the next several months, almost every major highway in the GTA will be under construction,” said Minister Takhar in a statement. “We know people need to get around without the hassle of construction. That’s why much of the work will be done at night and lanes on major highways will be kept open during rush hour.”

Cottage country will also experience is share of road construction. A 4 km truck-climbing lane will be built on Hwy. 26 east of Woodford; and Hwy. 35/115 will get repaved.

Construction information will be updated daily on portable changeable message signs and ramp closure signs. The information will also be updated continuously on permanent changeable message signs.