Highway 427 extension finally set to open

Ten-kilometre expansion stretches between Finch Ave. and Major Mackenzie Dr.

Torontosun.com
Sept. 17, 2021
Antonella Artuso

A long-awaited GTA highway extension will open to the public this weekend.

Ontario Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney announced Thursday that a 10-kilometre expansion of Hwy. 427 stretching between Finch Ave. and Major Mackenzie Dr. will be accessible to motorists starting Saturday.

“As part of our vision for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, our government is investing in highway infrastructure to address congestion and keep up with the growing needs of Ontarians,” Mulroney said in a statement.

The section of highway had embroiled Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and designer and builders LINK427 in a lengthy dispute which delayed the reopening.

An IO spokesperson told the Toronto Sun in April that there were drainage problems and possible related safety issues.

LINK427 countered in a legal action that the Ontario government was “abusing its power” to obtain last-minute upgrades that were not part of the original contract and that the road had been found to be safe.

While the two sides worked out their differences, nearby motorists could see a pristine, seemingly complete highway extension while they were stuck in traffic.

The opened extension will reduce travel times by up to 25 minutes for a two-way trip during peak periods compared to motoring on parallel municipal roadways, the Ministry of Transportation estimates.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Ministry of Transportation said the expansion required additional work to meet the requirements of the contract.

“All of the work that was required to meet the contract requirements and address safety-related concerns has now been completed,” the statement said.

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said that as the former MPP for Vaughan he was proud to deliver this infrastructure and accused the Ford government of stalling on the opening.

“The highway has been finished and ready to open for months, so I can’t understand how it took this long to open,” Del Duca said in a statement. “Thankfully the people of Vaughan will finally have traffic relief now that the highway is finally opening.”