Ford says Hwy. 413 construction set to begin, few details on timeline and costs

Premier Doug Ford says shovels are expected to hit the ground on a controversial highway across the Greater Toronto Area near the Halton region.

The construction of Highway 413 — a new corridor connecting the Milton-area 401 to Highway 403 — will begin within days, according to the Premier.

However, few details were given regarding the timeline of the highway’s completion, and its total cost.

The premier and his transportation minister refused to give those specific details, other than the project is part of their $30 billion infrastructure budget.

Meanwhile, environmentalists have long criticized the project, and believe the project is not even close to getting started.

“I think if it was going to change, by adding lanes and lanes and lanes, it’s called induced demand.” said Wendy Roberts with the environmental advocacy group Sustainable Milton. “Build and they will come — people are going to continue to drive.”

Roberts also said, “don’t expect much change in traffic on Highway 401 in her area.”

The new controversial highway will open up roughly 10 kilometres east from where she lives.

“We still don’t have full day GO Transit service to Milton,” said Roberts. “Every government has promised that we’re going to get that, so let’s get that on the table.”

After years of being on the shelf, Ford says work on the proposed 52 kilometre highway, connecting Highway 400 in Vaughan with Highway 401 in Mississauga near the Halton Region, is ready to begin.

READ MORE: Construction on Highway 413 to start soon, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says

The province adds that it awarded two contracts to begin the work: one for an embankment at the 401 and 407 interchange, and the other for the resurfacing of Highway 10 in Caledon, which will prepare for a new bridge.

“What I’ve been told is that this will start in the next few days and the other interchange will start in the next couple weeks,” said Ford.

However, when asked about the construction timeline and the cost to taxpayers, the premier and his transportation minister gave little detail, other than it falls under the province’s budgeted $30 million infrastructure plan over 10 years.

A capital fund with other projects attached.

“So, over the next couple of years, you will see the contract has been broken up in many different pieces that enables more workers to get to work quicker and faster,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario’s Transportation Minister. “It’s a way to accelerate this project, get more shovels in the ground.”

Ford promises to reduce travel times by 30 minutes per trip, and claims it will be a driver against U.S. President Trump’s tariffs.

Environmentalists have long argued that it will carve through prime farmland, and put several endangered species at risk.

Tim Gray, the Executive Director at Environmental Defence Canada, says the announcements by the Ford government are upgrades to existing infrastructure, and that the province still has some federal hurdles to overcome.

“The federal government has to issue permits under its own legislation, such as the Fisheries Act and so forth,” said Gray. “None of those applications have been made, none of that has been done — I know that from being back and forth with federal officials and MTO [Ministry of Transportation Ontario] officials — so none of the work of the highway can take place.”

Gray said a new report on the environmental impacts of the highway will be commissioned in the fall.

He also suggested the removal of tolls on Highway 407.

Earlier, Ford said his government is walking back on removing tolls for commercial trucks on the 407, saying it will cause long delays at off-ramps.

WATCH MORE: Doug Ford unveils plans for three-level tunnel under Hwy. 401, lacks feasibility report