Ontario awards major Bradford Bypass contract

Key Takeaways:

• The Ontario government has awarded a contract to Miller/Brennan to manage the design, quality control, safety, and delivery of the Bradford Bypass expressway’s west section.
• Once complete, the Bradford Bypass will enhance connectivity for communities in York Region and Simcoe County, supporting over 2,000 jobs annually during construction and contributing up to $286 million to Ontario’s GDP, benefiting local residents and businesses alike.
• The introduction of the Building Highways Faster Act in October 2024 highlights the government’s commitment to prioritizing projects like the Bradford Bypass, Highway 413, and the QEW Garden City Skyway bridge twinning, aiming to accelerate approvals and streamline construction timelines on critical infrastructure projects.

The Whole Story:

The Ontario government has awarded a major contract to oversee the design, quality control, safety and delivery of the west section of the Bradford Bypass expressway to Miller/Brennan. Officials noted that the contract marks a significant milestone in the province’s plan to relieve gridlock, save commuters time and keep goods moving across the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

“Our government is making real progress on our plan to build critical highways, including the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413, that will get Ontario drivers out of gridlock,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “With new measures like our proposed Building Highways Faster Act, which will speed up the building and approvals process on priority highway projects like this one, along with our nearly $28 billion investment in roads and highways throughout Ontario, we’re getting it done for drivers across the province.”

Early project work for the Bradford Bypass is already underway, with crews recently completing a new bridge at Simcoe County Road 4 that will help keep traffic moving in West Gwillimbury. Construction is also underway on a Highway 400 southbound lane that will connect to the future expressway.

“Residents across York-Simcoe have been waiting decades for the Bradford Bypass to finally be built,” said Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York Simcoe. “Our government is making consistent progress on this project which will get farmers’ crops to market and more people moving across the Greater Golden Horseshoe.”

Once complete, the Bradford Bypass will be a vital link for communities in York Region and Simcoe County, providing better connections to jobs and housing. During construction, the project will support over 2,000 well-paying jobs annually and contribute up to $286 million to Ontario’s gross domestic product.

This October, the province introduced the Building Highways Faster Act which, if passed, would designate the Bradford Bypass a priority highway project along with Highway 413 and the QEW Garden City Skyway bridge twinning project.

The project has a complex history that dates back to 1978 when it was initially proposed as an eastern extension of Highway 89 along Ravenshoe Road. This proposal was shelved in 1986, leading to collaborative studies between the province and affected municipalities. A refined plan for the Bradford Bypass emerged in 1989, followed by an environmental assessment (EA) that began in 1993 and was completed in 1997.