Ontario begins construction to improve Highway 427

The province is spending $616 million to upgrade a section of 427 in York Region, northwest of Toronto. PHOTO: Floydian, via Wikimedia Commons

TORONTO – Ontario has begun construction on a $616 million expansion of Highway 427 through York Region, to help improve traffic flow, create jobs and support economic growth.

The highway will be extended by 6.6 kilometres from Highway 7 to Major Mackenzie Drive, and widened to 8 lanes from Finch Avenue to Highway 7.

Once completed in 2021, High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes with electronic tolling will also be installed on Highway 427 in both directions from south of Highway 409 to north of Rutherford Road—approximately 15.5 kilometres. No existing general purpose lanes will be removed to accommodate HOT lanes.

HOT lanes encourage people to carpool, help manage congestion and provide more options to travellers.

The average daily traffic on Highway 427 between Finch Avenue and Highway 407 ETR is expected to grow from approximately 115,000 vehicles per day to more than 137,000 by 2021.

In 2017-18, Ontario is committing more than $2.5 billion to repair and expand provincial highways and bridges across the province.