Ontario moving ahead with Hwy. 401 tunnel, despite previously shelving idea
Ontario investigated idea of 401 tunnel as early as 2019, but cancelled project after it was deemed to be too risky
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OTTAWA — Ontario is putting the pedal to the metal on its plan to build a tunnel under North America’s busiest freeway — despite previous assessments that deemed the project too risky.
When questioned during a Wednesday morning press conference in Thornhill, Premier Doug Ford said the plan to build a nearly 20-metre wide tunnel under Hwy. 401 is still at full throttle.
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“Just because it hasn’t been done doesn’t mean we can’t do it,” Ford insisted.
“We’re going to move forward on that — safety is number one — I’ve been talking about this tunnel since 2018, but now we’re going to make sure we do testing all along the highway.”
He added his government isn’t content to sit by and watch traffic volumes on the 400-series highways reach the breaking point without taking action.
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“If they can tunnel under the English Channel, if they can tunnel through mountains and every other place, we sure the heck can tunnel,” Ford added, saying a feasibility study on the project was forthcoming.
“It’s costing our economy $56 billion every single year in traffic congestion,” Ford said when asked about cost.
The idea of tunnelling Ontario out of gridlock is apparently nothing new.
Documents uncovered by Global News and CBC this week showed the province was interested in tunnelling under Hwy. 401 as early as 2019, but dismissed the plan only two years later after the risk of collapse was deemed too great.
A 2021 assessment for the plan, Global reported, concluded that tunnelling under such a busy roadway would pose undue risks to public safety.
Ford said his tunnel would consist of three levels — one for eastbound traffic, one going westbound and a third for transit.
“That’s what we’re doing, and people will be thankful for years to come,” Ford said.
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
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