Ontario government moving forward with plans for controversial Bradford Bypass

The Ontario government made an announcement about the controversial Bradford Bypass project on Mon., Oct. 28, 2024. (CTV News/Rob Cooper)

On Monday, the Ontario government revealed it had awarded a major contract to Miller/Brennan to manage construction of the western section of the Bradford Bypass in Simcoe County.

The government plans to construct a 16.3 kilometre, four-lane thoroughfare between Line 8 and 9 in Bradford to alleviate traffic congestion and provide a shortcut route between Highway 400 and Highway 404.

“The bypass will be a welcomed addition to our local roads and will play a critical role in alleviating congestion allowing Ontario residents reach their destination more quickly,” noted Bradford Mayor James Leduc.

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“Residents across York-Simcoe have been waiting decades for the Bradford Bypass to finally be built,” said York Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney. “Our government is making consistent progress on this project which will get farmers’ crops to market and more people moving across the Greater Golden Horseshoe.”

Environment protection groups have opposed the project, raising concerns about increased greenhouse gas emissions and groundwater contamination.

“This approach, this fast-tracking approach really just means less environmental protection, and erosion of some of our democratic rights,” said Claire Malcolmson, executive director of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition. “We need to know there’s also not going to be huge environmental costs and impacts that we have to pay up as well.”

The Green Party released a statement Monday afternoon, following the Ford government’s latest update on the project, saying the bypass would not make life more convenient for Ontarians.

“What it will do is increase greed-fuelled sprawl, ramp up climate pollution and slice right through the Greenbelt – paving over some of the most fertile farmland in the entire country while locking commuters into endless gridlock,” the statement reads in part.

The environmental party added the province should be focused on pouring money into public transportation rather than more highways.

“They need more affordable options for getting around – not another highway through the Greenbelt,” the statement concluded.

But despite the protests, the government is driving forward with its plans.

Construction is already underway on a Highway 400 southbound lane that will connect to the future freeway.

“The bypass will be a welcomed addition to our local roads and will play a critical role in alleviating congestion allowing Ontario residents reach their destination more quickly,” noted Bradford Mayor James Leduc.

The province continues to remain elusive about a completion timeline for the project, while Leduc hopes construction will begin by spring 2025, with a possible end date sometime in 2029.