Line 5-Highway 400 interchange temporarily blocked for grand opening

The Line 5 bridge and Highway 400 interchange a 'key piece of Bradford West Gwillimbury economic development,' says local MP

Bradfordtoday.ca
March 5, 2019
Miriam King

Motorists eastbound on Line 5, expecting to use the on-ramp to the northbound Highway 400, had a bit of a surprise on Monday morning.

The ramp was temporarily blocked by Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury public works staff -- not for repairs, but because the ribbon-cutting officially opening the new Line 5 bridge and Highway 400 interchange was taking place on the ramp, with the bridge in the background.

The interchange has been open to traffic since December -- a “soft” opening that allowed motorists to discover the alternate route into Bradford West Gwillimbury.

Monday’s event made it official, bringing together BWG Mayor Rob Keffer and members of council, MP for King-Vaughan and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue Deb Schulte, and Simcoe County Warden George Cornell to cut the ribbon. Schulte was on hand representing the Hon. Francois-
Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
“Our employment lands are open for business,” said Keffer of the new interchange. “It’s the gateway to our employment lands.”

Schulte noted the approximately $54-million project was the result of successful partnerships and co-operation among levels of government, and had been in the works since 2012.

Funding for the project was provided by Infrastructure Canada, the Ministry of Transportation Ontario, and the County of Simcoe, as well as Bradford West Gwillimbury.

“It’s a key piece of Bradford West Gwillimbury economic development,” Schulte said, “providing economic development for this area.”

Asked about ongoing construction, Keffer acknowledged the final piece of the puzzle is the Southwest Arterial road -- widening Line 5 and Sideroad 10 to four lanes.
“They’ll be starting construction this year,” Keffer said, with a completion date sometime in 2020.

“It’s a two-year project,” he noted, and one that will include a bicycle trail on one side of the roadway, providing for active transportation as well as improved access to Highway 400.

A representative of the provincial government was unable to attend the ribbon-cutting - the one partner in the project missing from the official opening. However, MPP for York-Simcoe Caroline Mulroney said, "Our government is committed to making life easier for people in York-Simcoe and across Ontario. Investments in highway infrastructure on Highway 400 are important for families, workers and job creators in our communities, and we will continue to work with partners to move forward on our plan to make Ontario open for jobs."

The 3-year construction project, undertaken in April 2016, included demolition of the old bridge over Highway 400 and construction of the new 6-lane bridge, a partial cloverleaf interchange, realigning 5 Sideroad and Coffey Road, restoration of Fraser Creek to a more naturalized flow, widening of Line 5, and installation of underground servicing, streetlights, and traffic lights.