VAUGHAN, ONT. – The $616-million, 10-kilometre expansion of Highway 427 from Finch Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive will open to drivers Sept. 18.
The opening had been delayed due to a dispute between the consortium hired to design, build and maintain the highway and Infrastructure Ontario, who tapped the brakes on issuing a substantial completion certificate earlier this year do to crossfall gradient concerns.
The expansion of the highway, a heavily-used commuter route for the City of Vaughan and neighbouring communities, is expected to save commuters up to 25 minutes of total travel time for a two-way trip during peak periods compared to using parallel municipal roadways, indicates a release.
A 6.6-kilometre extension of the highway includes eight new lanes from Highway 7 to Rutherford Road; six new lanes to Major Mackenzie Drive; and three new interchanges at Langstaff Road, Rutherford Road and Major Mackenzie Drive have been constructed to connect roadways without interruption.
A four-kilometre segment has also been widened to eight lanes from Finch Avenue to Highway 7 along with an upgraded full interchange at Highway 7.
One High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction of Highway 427 will also be opened. The new northbound HOV lane will be located between Highway 409 and Rutherford Road. The southbound HOV lane will start north of Rutherford Road and connect to an existing HOV lane south of Finch Ave.
“The Highway 427 expansion will greatly benefit the people of Vaughan-Woodbridge. Not only will it help take vehicles causing crippling gridlock off our local roads, but it will also make our community safer while reducing travel times for commuters and commercial vehicles,” said Michael Tibollo, MPP for Vaughan – Woodbridge, in a statement.
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