Ontario has taken a decisive step toward constructing Highway 413, issuing a procurement notice to design and build the eastern third of the planned corridor and a companion extension of Highway 427, while separately awarding a construction‑management contract for the Highway 410 extension.
The procurement notice covers the segment of Highway 413 from Highway 400 to west of The Gore Road, representing approximately one‑third of the full route. A formal request for proposals (RFP) is expected later this fall and will set out detailed design and construction requirements, the province said.
Province frames project as economic and congestion solution
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria described the move as the province “doubling down” on construction amid international trade pressures, arguing the corridor will reduce travel times, support construction jobs and boost Ontario’s economy.
“Highway 413 will reduce travel times across the GTA while supporting more than 6,000 jobs per year during construction and contributing more than $1 billion to Ontario’s GDP,”
The province says the corridor will feature 11 interchanges and could carry up to 300,000 vehicles per day, potentially cutting some trips by as much as 30 minutes and easing pressure on existing 400‑series routes across Toronto, Halton, Peel and York regions.
How the pieces fit together
Alongside the RFP for the eastern third of Highway 413, the same procurement will include the Highway 427 extension, slated to run from Major Mackenzie Drive north to Highway 413. Separately, the province awarded a contract for a construction manager overseeing the central section of Highway 413, which includes a 9.1‑kilometre Highway 410 extension intended to improve links to Highway 407 ETR, Highway 401 and Highway 403.
Provincial officials say the Highway 410 link will enhance access to communities such as Burlington, Hamilton, Brantford and Woodstock, by creating more direct highway connections to the western part of the greater Golden Horseshoe.
- Procurement notice: eastern third of Highway 413 (Highway 400 to west of The Gore Road)
- RFP: to follow this fall, will include Highway 427 extension
- Construction management contract: central Highway 413, including 9.1‑km Highway 410 extension
Officials framed the initiative as part of a broader $31‑billion provincial investment in highways, roads and bridges that also includes the Bradford Bypass and the Garden City Skyway twin bridge.
Background and controversy
Highway 413 has been the subject of years of debate, environmental review and legal challenges. Supporters argue a new corridor is necessary to relieve congestion and support supply‑chain resilience, while critics have raised concerns about environmental impacts, urban sprawl and the long‑term effectiveness of freeway expansion to solve traffic problems.
Those debates are particularly acute across Ontario’s urban‑rural divide: suburban and exurban commuters and municipal leaders in growth areas have often pushed for increased road capacity, while conservationists, some municipal planners and public transit advocates warn that new highways can encourage low‑density development and increase vehicle kilometres travelled.
The province’s announcement signals an acceleration of the project. The exact timing of construction start dates, environmental mitigation measures and land acquisition plans will be defined in the RFP and subsequent contracts.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Highway 413 segment | Highway 400 to west of The Gore Road (~one‑third of corridor) |
| Expected capacity | Up to 300,000 vehicles/day; 11 interchanges |
| Job projection | More than 6,000 jobs per year during construction (province estimate) |
For residents in the corridor, the next months will likely bring consultations tied to the RFP and detailed design work. Municipalities and local landowners may also watch closely for notices about property impacts and potential expropriations once detailed plans are produced.
For now, the procurement notice is the clearest signal to date that the Ford government intends to press ahead with the highway project after years of study and intermittent pauses, positioning Highway 413 as a flagship component of its provincial road‑building agenda.
On the ground around the GTA, planners and commuters alike will be assessing whether the promised travel‑time reductions materialize and how the corridor will reshape growth patterns outside the urban core.
As the RFP proceeds this fall, officials will be expected to publish more concrete timelines and costs tied to the design and construction phase.
