WINDSOR, Ont. — Phase three of the five-phase project to widen 46 km of Highway 401 from Windsor to Tilbury, in Essex County, has been completed.

“Completion of the third phase of the project to widen Highway 401 from Windsor to Tilbury will help improve safety and keep goods and people flowing through this important trade corridor,” the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

The third phase was completed on Nov. 30. It included the widening of Highway 401 between Highway 77 and Essex Road 27 from four to six lanes and the installation of a concrete median barrier; the replacement of the St. Joachim Road (French Line Road) bridge; the rehabilitation and widening of the Ruscom River bridge; the rehabilitation of the Rochester Townline Road and 3rd Concession Road underpass structures; upgrades to highway signs; and upgrading of the Windsor South Truck Inspection Station to a commercial vehicle inspection facility.

Phase one was completed in December 2005, and involved widening and improving Highway 401 between Essex Road 42 and Highway 77. The second phase included improvements to Highway 401 from Puce Road to Manning Road and was completed in November 2006. Drivers have already benefited from improved safety and traffic flow on these important stretches of highway with the additional lanes, a concrete median barrier and improved signage, officials say.

Both federal and provincial governments will be investing more than $330 million to improve the busy stretch of highway.

Through the Border Infrastructure Fund, the federal and provincial governments are undertaking the fourth phase of Highway 401 from Highway 3 to Manning Road as part of the Let’s Get Windsor-Essex Moving strategy. Construction of this fourth phase is underway and is expected to be completed in 2010. Design work for the fifth phase is currently underway.