The Ontario government is moving ahead on the construction of Highway 413, having reached an agreement with the federal government which includes new environmental protections.

Premier Doug Ford says its part of a plan to fix gridlock and get drivers across Halton, Peel and York regions. “Highway 413 will help meet the needs of our growing province as a prosperity corridor that will create thousands of good-paying union jobs during the construction phase and make life easier and more convenient for millions of drivers in the GTA and across Ontario. We’re getting it done,” he said.

Fieldwork is underway to evaluate soil composition and bedrock depth. By mid-May, the province says it will be hosting an event with “key private sector experts to discuss ways to move construction forward quickly and efficiently, taking advantage of new technologies and project acceleration strategies while maximizing opportunities for economic development.”

The government says it will be meeting with property owners to acquire land at “fair market value,” with the expedition of land acquisitions in the fall. In addition, the province is planning for the release of the first early works construction contracts to begin building Highway 413 in 2025, subject to all necessary approvals.

“We have a responsibility to ensure Ontario drivers have more time to spend on the moments that really matter in life, not stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Highway 413 will bring much-needed relief to drivers across the GTA and our government is proud to be getting it done.”

The province says the project will contribute $350 million to Ontario’s real GDP and support 3,500 jobs each year of construction.

In a release, the Ford government says Highway 413 is a central component of its transportation plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, designed to improve travel options and drive economic growth throughout the region.