Ontario Issues RFP to Extend Highway 410 as Progress Continues on Highway 413
Ontario issues RFP for the Highway 410 extension to Highway 413, moving the province closer to reducing gridlock across the GTA.
CALEDON — Ontario is moving forward with the next phase of construction on Highway 413, issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to design a 9.1-kilometre extension of Highway 410 that will connect directly with the future corridor. The province says the extension is a key milestone in its effort to relieve gridlock across Halton, Peel, and York regions—areas identified as among the most congested in North America.
The Highway 410 extension will run from Countryside Drive north to Highway 413, with a second segment stretching west from Highway 413 to Highway 10. Once complete, the link will provide a direct connection between the two highways, reducing travel times and helping divert regional traffic away from local roads.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the work represents part of Ontario’s broader strategy to stimulate the economy and support the movement of goods. In the official release, he noted: “Our government is making historic investments in highway infrastructure to get drivers in the GTA and Ontario out of gridlock. Building Highway 413 will help protect Ontario against U.S. tariffs and global economic uncertainty by improving the movement of people and goods and keeping more than 6,000 workers on the job during construction.”
According to the province, Highway 413 is expected to shorten trips by up to 30 minutes and generate more than $1 billion in annual economic activity once built. Construction of the full corridor will support more than 6,000 jobs per year.
Major Projects Advancing Along the Corridor
The province awarded the first two construction contracts for Highway 413 in August and recently completed upgrades to the Highway 401/407 interchange, which will serve as the project’s western terminus. Extending Highway 410 builds on several infrastructure efforts underway as Ontario advances its long-term transportation network.
The 410 extension is also part of Ontario’s $220-billion infrastructure plan, the largest in Canadian history. That plan includes more than $30 billion dedicated to roads, highways, and bridges, such as the Bradford Bypass, the twinning of the Garden City Skyway, and widening projects on Highway 401 and the QEW.
Energy Corridor Refinements and Environmental Review
The province confirmed refinements to the Northwest GTA Transmission Corridor, which is being co-located with Highway 413. Lands no longer needed for future energy infrastructure will be released.
Under the Highway 413 Act, 2024, a draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report has been completed and is now open for public comment. The province says the report outlines preliminary design elements and environmental considerations for the new corridor.
Industry Groups Welcome Progress
Several construction and infrastructure organizations voiced support for the project in the official release, emphasizing the economic and regional benefits of accelerating work on Highway 413.
Sharon Armstrong of the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association said the continued progress “will strengthen Ontario’s economy, reduce gridlock, and support the close-to-market aggregate supply that makes every major infrastructure project possible.”
Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce added that reducing congestion aligns with Ontario’s broader economic objectives, while local representatives such as MPP Sylvia Jones described the milestone as a meaningful step for communities across Dufferin-Caledon.
Industry groups including LiUNA Local 183, RCCAO, and the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association also highlighted the potential for job creation, improved mobility, and long-term economic opportunities tied to the project.
Tackling a Costly Congestion Challenge
A report by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis estimates gridlock costs Ontario $56 billion per year—a figure that could nearly double by 2044 if left unaddressed. The province says investments like Highway 410 and Highway 413 are essential to reversing that trend and keeping Ontario competitive.
With design work preparing to begin and early construction contracts already awarded, Ontario maintains that Highway 413 remains a priority in its long-term plan to support population growth, strengthen trade corridors, and reduce commute times for residents across the Greater Toronto Area.
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