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Ontario Studied Highway 401 Tunnel Plan Years Before Announcement
The Highway 401 tunnel project wasn’t just a new idea from Premier Doug Ford. Internal documents show Ontario had studied it years earlier.
In September 2024, Ford announced a feasibility study to explore a 50-kilometre express tunnel under Canada’s busiest highway. But government emails and presentations obtained by Global News reveal this concept dates back to 2019.
That year, Ontario launched a portal allowing private companies to submit unsolicited proposals for public infrastructure. Among them: three plans targeting Highway 401 traffic, including tolled tunnels and managed lanes.
Private Firms Spark Tunnel Talk
In 2019, Aecon proposed twin tolled tunnels under Highway 401. Cintra pitched a managed “U-Ring” route through major GTA expressways. Acciona suggested expanding 401’s central section with express lanes in 2021.
Government officials quietly studied these plans. Emails show civil servants and consultants assessed tunnel options, including cost, timelines, and geotechnical needs.
One official wrote that planning was paused in 2021 pending the Greater Golden Horseshoe strategy. Yet the work resumed in 2024 after ministers “caught wind” of the tunnel ideas.
“This is pretty much where the unsolicited proposal (USP) evaluation ended,” one staffer wrote after Ford’s press event.
Political Push Meets Public Scrutiny
Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles raised concerns about the lack of transparency. “Why wasn’t there a public call for proposals?” she asked, likening the situation to the controversial Greenbelt deal.
Transportation officials defended the renewed study. They said traffic congestion now costs Ontario $56 billion annually, and updated data is needed.
Still, political staff pushed to move quickly. “MO is following up weekly and getting antsy,” said one September 2024 email.
Experts Urge Transparency
University of Toronto professor Matti Siemiatycki called the Highway 401 tunnel project a “dream,” but said it deserves a full study since it was part of Ford’s election platform.
“All documents should be released so the public can decide,” he said.
