407 extension will take seven years

MP Dean Del Mastro says it will be built, but admits he’s annoyed that federal government has no say in the timeline

It’s going to take seven years and $8 billion to extend Highway 407 50 kilometres to Highway 115, creating about 13,000 jobs.

MPP Jeff Leal says the project has been broken into two phases, with the first phase finishing at Simcoe Street in Oshawa in 2015.

No one expected the environmental assessment to take two and a half years, he says, which is why the roadwork is taking so long, but he states the assessment is now complete for both phases.
The connection to Highway 115 has moved south, MPP Leal adds, to deal with environmental issues when going through the Oak Ridges Moraine. He expects the two highways to connect near Durham Concession 8.
“It does present some environmental challenges,” he says.

MPP Leal notes the original 407 was built in three phases.

As the community continues to grow, he says the will be more of a need for the highway.
“It’s in all of our best interests,” he says.

If MP Dean Del Mastro could make it move ahead quicker by showing up with a shovel, he says he would.
“I think there’s going to be a number of folks disappointed,” he says of the time line.

Despite supplying half the funds, he says it’s frustrating to not have any say over putting it to use.
But, he emphasizes the extension will be completed as it’s critical to both the function of Highway 407 and critical for the region to give businesses access to markets and make up for the region’s infrastructure deficit.
For now, he says local businesses will deal with seven more years of traffic jams when heading into the Toronto area.

“Ultimately, it needs to be built,” he states.

This region, he says, has not received the same advantages in infrastructure as other comparable places. There are four main aspects to infrastructure, he says: highways, airports, rail, and broadband. We’ve done well in some areas, but are lacking in others, like rail, he adds.

In the coming weeks, he expects to release more information about his independent study of the Metrolinx report on bringing passenger rail service to Peterborough.

“I think people are going to be encouraged,” he says.

Link: http://www.mykawartha.com/news/article/833469--407-extension-will-take-seven-years