The Ontario government yesterday announced it is investing $12 million to support the widening of Highway 7 from Reesor Road in Markham to Brock Road in Pickering.
The expansion from two to four lanes will help drivers spend less time in traffic and support the area’s growing manufacturing, life sciences and agricultural sectors.
Some 8,500 vehicles travel Highway 7 from Reesor Road to Brock Road every day.
The government’s investment will be used to support the preliminary design and environmental assessment work to widen 10.4 kilometres of Highway 7. The Highway 7 expansion project will also include improvements to local intersections and the expansion of the Little Rouge Creek bridge in Markham.
“As Durham and York Region continue to grow, our government is standing up for drivers to keep them moving and out of gridlock,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “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 expansion of Highway 7 brings more than just widened roads; it paves the way for enhanced connectivity, economic growth, and smoother commutes for residents and businesses alike,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge. “Pickering continues to see job growth, bigger paychecks, and a brighter future.”
“As Pickering expands and emerges as one of the largest municipalities in Durham Region, it is vital that we upgrade our roads and infrastructure to accommodate this growth. We are grateful to the Province of Ontario for recognizing this need and for making this important investment to support the expansion of Highway 7, which will facilitate the movement of people and goods within our burgeoning Pickering Innovation Corridor,” said Kevin Ashe, Mayor of Pickering.
By 2051, the Greater Golden Horseshoe’s population is expected to grow from 10 million to almost 15 million people. To ensure the province has the infrastructure needed to keep goods and people moving, the government is investing nearly $100 billion over the next decade in highways, roads, and public transit – the largest expansion in Ontario’s history.
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