The Ontario government is widening Highway 7 between Markham and Pickering at a cost of $12 million.
The expansion from Reesor Road to Brock Road will push the highway from two lanes to four lanes, with the goal of helping the traffic flow there, a news release stated.
The funds will support the preliminary design and environmental assessment to widen the 10.4-kilometre stretch of the highway.
“As Durham and York Region continue to grow, our government is standing up for drivers to keep them moving and out of gridlock,” Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria said.
“Widening Highway 7 is a milestone investment from Ontario’s 2024 budget and another step in our government’s plan to build a better Ontario.”
The province has pushed several highway projects in and around York Region in recent years. The province is also doing planning work for Highway 413, which will stretch from Vaughan to the southwest, as well as the Bradford Bypass just north of Newmarket between Highway 400 and Highway 404.
The Highway 7 expansion project will also include improvements to local intersections and the expansion of the Little Rouge Creek bridge in Markham.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti praised the funding.
"I applaud the provincial government’s investment to improve the road network in our community. Increasing the capacity of Highway 7 from Pickering’s Brock Road to Reesor Road in Markham will improve this key link between our cities and alleviate traffic congestion," Scarpitti said. "This project will improve connectivity, road safety and foster economic growth and tourism.”
Approximately 8,500 vehicles travel the stretch of Highway 7 each day, the province said.
The province also noted the Greater Golden Horseshoe's population is expected to increase from 10 million to almost 15 million by 2051, with infrastructure investment needed to account for that.
