Hwy. 404 extension to East Gwillimbury, Georgina on track for autumn opening

Yorkregion.com
June 26, 2014
Heidi Riedner

After a two-year delay, the long awaited opening of the Hwy. 404 extension to Ravenshoe Road is still on the agenda for this fall, according to the Transportation Ministry.

”If we can open it sooner, we will,” MTO spokesperson Astrid Poei said yesterday.

That’s good news for the estimated 50,000 commuters from Georgina and East Gwillimbury who make the daily trek south for work.

“Everyone that I have spoken to is eagerly anticipating the opening of the 404, and not solely as a way to travel south in a quicker, safer fashion than what currently exists, but also finally create that much needed connectivity that will enhance all of our business and economic development growth going forward,” Georgina Mayor Rob Grossi said.

Aware of the importance of the transportation artery the extension represents and how highly anticipated it is, the ministry is working as quickly as possible and is on schedule for a fall opening, Ms Poei added.

Northbound lanes from Queensville Sideroad to Ravenshoe Road, as well as on and off ramps, intersection and carpool lot at the Ravenshoe juncture have been completed.

Construction crews began the project at both ends of the extension, working simultaneously, but have yet to “meet in the middle” at this point, Ms Poei said.

But most of the major work has been done, she added.

Concrete and asphalt paving, earth grading and drainage measures still need to be completed with a handful of months left to go until opening.

Two official opening dates will accompany completion — one when the highway is open to traffic in the fall and the other “supreme end” of the construction contract, scheduled for December.

The latter accommodates final cleanup and ensures all provincial warranty issues and standards have been met.

Under construction since July 2010, the 13-kilometre, four-lane extension between Green Lane in the south and Ravenshoe in Keswick was originally supposed to be completed by December 2012.

Soil and utility issues delayed the project by two years. 

Those delays affected the bottom line of the two construction contracts, totalling $87.5 million to build the stretch of highway, three interchanges, four bridges, seven large culverts for drainage and wildlife crossings, 10 stormwater management ponds, three carpool lots and various related highway features.

A final budget number won’t be available until next year, after a final accounting of the four-year transportation project has been done, Ms Poei said.