Second part of Hwy 401 improvements in Windsor done

WINDSOR, Ont. — Phase two of the widening of Hwy 401 from Windsor to Tilbury, in Essex County is now complete, Transport Canada and Ontario officials announced.

Both Ottawa and the provincial government are investing more than $310 million to improve 46 km of Hwy 401 between Windsor and Tilbury to ease highway congestion en route to North America’s busiest commercial border crossing at Windsor-Detroit.

This project includes improvements to Hwy 401 from Puce Road to Manning Road. Highway 401 was stretched from four to six lanes, improving both Manning Road and Puce Road interchanges to increase safety and traffic flow, as well as installing a concrete median barrier to enhance safety.

Phase one, completed in December 2005, involved widening and improving the 401 between Essex Road 42 and Highway 77. It also included a concrete median barrier and improved signage.

The third phase is expected to be complete by fall 2007. It involves improvements between Highway 77 and Essex Road 27, such as:

Widening the 401 from four to six lanes and installing a concrete median barrier; replacing the St. Joachim Road bridge and rehabilitating and widening the Ruscom River bridge; rehabilitating the Rochester Townline Road and 3rd Concession Road underpass structures; and upgrading the Windsor South Truck Inspection Station to a commercial vehicle inspection facility.

“This multi-phase project will improve traffic flow and safety on this important stretch of Highway 401, which leads to Canada’s busiest commercial border crossing,” said federal Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon. “The completion of phase two of this project is another example of governments working together to achieve results for Canadians.”