401-YONGE INTERCHANGE RECEIVES STAGE 1 PLANNING APPROVAL

TORONTO — Today, Stan Cho, MPP for Willowdale, announced the Ontario government has given Stage 1 Planning Approval to improve the Highway 401 and Yonge Street interchange and will fund up to 50 per cent of the cost for the City of Toronto to conduct an Environmental Assessment. The Environmental Assessment will look at options to improve both the municipal and provincial road networks in the area in order to increase capacity, improve safety and reduce traffic delays.

“The Highway 401/Yonge Street interchange is located in Toronto’s second largest high-density area and has been over capacity for many years,” said MPP Cho. “After nearly two decades of residents calling on government to fix the ramp, this funding will help get work underway on improving this important interchange and reduce congestion for local traffic.”

After completion of the City’s Environmental Assessment, subsequent design work would be required prior to start of construction.

“Highway 401 is an essential part of the province’s highway network that connects the Greater Toronto Area with southern Ontario and the US for international trade and economic development,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “Improving this major interchange on one of the province’s busiest highways will help improve the movement of people and goods across the GTA.”

Ontario is developing a long-term transportation plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe to ensure our future transportation system supports continued prosperity and quality of life until 2051. You can participate in our online survey to let us know what transportation priorities are most important to you.

Quick Facts

• This section of Highway 401 has a high-volume of commercial and commuter traffic with approximately 340,000 vehicles, including 27,000 trucks, using this highway daily.
• The interchange project includes improved access to highway ramps from Yonge Street to eastbound highway 401 and enhancements to the municipal network along the Yonge Street Corridor.
• The Yonge Street-Highway 401 interchange, located in Toronto’s second largest high-density area, currently experiences high levels of congestion and traffic volumes due to significant growth in the area.