Ontario Opens Highway 427 Expansion

New lanes will reduce travel time by up to 25 minutes during peak periods

September 16, 2021

Transportation

VAUGHAN – The Ontario Government is opening a 10-kilometre expansion of Highway 427 from Finch Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive to help improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and move people and goods safely.

“I am pleased to announce the new and widened sections of Highway 427 will be open to the public on September 18,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “As part of our vision for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, our government is investing in highway infrastructure to address congestion and keep up with the growing needs of Ontarians.”

The expansion of Highway 427, which serves as a heavily-used commuter route to 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 driving along parallel municipal roadways.

A 6.6-kilometre extension of the highway includes eight new lanes from Highway 7 to Rutherford Road and six new lanes to Major Mackenzie Drive. Three new interchanges at Langstaff Road, Rutherford Road and Major Mackenzie Drive have also 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.

“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. “Most of all, it means the creation of new opportunities like we have never seen before.”

Ontario will also be opening one High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction of Highway 427 to further help improve traffic flow. The new northbound HOV lane will be located between Highway 409 and Rutherford Rd. The southbound HOV lane will start north of Rutherford Road and connect to an existing HOV lane south of Finch Ave.

Improving highways, roads and bridges across the province is a key part of the government's commitment to be a world leader in moving people and goods safely while driving economic growth and job creation by investing in transportation infrastructure.

Quick Facts

Approximately 1,000 jobs were created and sustained through 2018-2021 as a result of this highway expansion.

The extension will have two interchanges near the Vaughan Intermodal Facility to accommodate Long Combination Vehicles, making it easier for trucks to manoeuvre and support the efficient movement of goods across the province and beyond.

To protect species at risk impacted by the project’s construction, the ministry completed a 3.20 hectare woodland restoration of a former agricultural field on the east side of the highway, just north of Rutherford Road, and installed 20 habitat structures for four species of bats (Little Brown Myotis, Northern Myotis, Eastern Small-footed Myotis and Tri-coloured Bat).

The Ministry of Transportation worked together with Infrastructure Ontario to deliver the Highway 427 expansion project using their public-private partnership (P3) delivery model.

Quotes

"Our government continues to make investments in Ontario’s roads, bridges, and highways. By improving infrastructure in our communities, we are improving the quality of life for the people of Ontario. The completed Highway 427 expansion project is an excellent example of our government’s work, as it will enhance our roadways, reduce the amount of time people spend in their vehicles, and give them more time to enjoy their family and friends."
- Kinga Surma
Minister of Infrastructure

"Our government is expanding subways in York, improving all GO Stations in King and Vaughan, and completing the Highway 427 expansion to reduce congestion and get people moving. This expansion is critical to supporting families, commuters and small businesses who need to efficiently move across the GTA without the headache of debilitating gridlock."
- Stephen Lecce
MPP King–Vaughan

"We are excited and pleased about the opening of the Highway 427 expansion on Saturday, September 18. We are proud to have delivered this important piece of transportation infrastructure that will serve people travelling through and around the GTA."
- Michael Lindsay
President and CEO of Infrastructure Ontario