Ontario has awarded AECOM a detailed-design contract for widening Highway 400 between Highway 9 and the future Bradford Bypass, the province announced Monday.

The proposed expansion would take the 11-kilometre section from six lanes to 10 by adding one regular traffic lane and one high-occupancy vehicle lane in each direction. The new HOV lanes would connect with the existing network south of Highway 9.

The contract also covers drainage, culverts, lighting, signage and interchange-ramp work. Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria says the project is intended to reduce congestion and support movement of goods.

This announcement advances design work. It does not announce that the added lanes are open, and the release provides no construction schedule for this widening.

Sources: Ontario Ministry of Transportation · Image source and licence

Highway 400 near Parry Sound, July 2021 file photo: JustSomePics / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. This photograph shows another section of the highway. Licence.