Phase four of Hwy 401 widening near Essex County underway

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WINDSOR, Ont. — Phase four of a five-phase project to widen Highway 401 near Windsor is now officially underway. Together, the five phases will widen 46 kilometres of Highway 401 to six lanes from Windsor easterly to Tilbury, in Essex County.

“This multi-phase project demonstrates the commitment of Canada’s New Government to growing the national economy, and improving the environment through the reduction of congestion along this busy stretch of Highway 401, which leads to one of Canada’s most important commercial border crossings,” said the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “It is also an example of governments working together to improve the infrastructure that makes up Canada’s trade corridors and gateways.”

“The McGuinty government has delivered record investments to improve Ontario’s highways,” said Donna Cansfield, Ontario Minister of Transportation. “This section of Highway 401 is the gateway to our border, and by widening the highway we are keeping people and goods moving and our economy strong.”

This latest phase of construction will include the widening of Highway 401 from four to six lanes between Highway 3 and Manning Road (Essex County Road 19); the replacement of the Dougall Parkway, Walker Road, Provincial Road and railway bridges; the rehabilitation of five underpass structures; the installation of a concrete median barrier, drainage system, paved median and shoulders to enhance safety; and the upgrade of high mast lighting.

The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario are investing a combined total of $325 million to the project. The first and second phases of this project are now complete and the third phase of construction is expected to be complete later this fall.

Phase one of the Highway 401 Windsor to Tilbury project was completed in December 2005, and involved widening and improving Highway 401 between Essex Road 42 and Highway 77. Drivers have already benefited from improved safety and traffic flow on this important stretch of highway with the additional lanes, a concrete median barrier and improved signage.

The second phase of this project, which included improvements to Highway 401 from Puce Road to Manning Road, was completed in November 2006. This phase included widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes, improving both Manning Road and Puce Road interchanges to increase safety and traffic flow, and installing a concrete median barrier to enhance safety.

Construction of the third phase began in spring 2006, and is expected to be complete by late fall 2007. It involves improvements between Highway 77 and Essex Road 27, such as widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes; installing a concrete median barrier; replacing the St. Joachim Road (French Line Road) bridge and rehabilitating and widening the Ruscom River bridge; rehabilitating two underpass structures; and upgrading the Windsor South truck inspection station.

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