Ford disregards warning that the Hwy. 401 tunnel might lead to a possible 'highway cave-in'
Ontario's Proposed Highway 401 Tunnel: A Complex Journey
The proposed tunnelled expressway under Highway 401 in Ontario has a rich history dating back several years, involving private sector ideas, government studies, and recent revival.
Origins and Evolution
The idea of an express tunnel under Highway 401 has been under consideration since at least 2019 by the Ontario government. Initially, the government invited private companies to submit unsolicited proposals to alleviate congestion on North America’s busiest highway. Over three years, the government received multiple proposals, including tunnels and managed lanes[1].
The concept is not entirely new to the Toronto region; a similar twin tunnel proposal under the Gardiner Expressway was put forward by Aecon, a Canadian construction firm, in 2015 and formalized in 2017. However, this project was dropped when the city opted to rehabilitate the Gardiner instead[2].
Predecessors like the Don Valley Parkway (built in the 1950s) demonstrate the long history of infrastructure development in the GTA to address traffic needs but do not include tunnelled expressways[3].
Past Challenges and Concerns
Internal government documents obtained by Global News reveal that early studies of the 401 tunnel project encountered challenges and risks significant enough to shelve the plan initially. These risks included concerns about public safety and the structural integrity of the existing roadway, with potential dangers of roadway collapse associated with tunneling beneath such a major and busy highway[1].
Despite these early warnings, the government persisted with a feasibility study in September 2024 to assess whether a 50-kilometre tunnel could be viable, commissioning a third-party analysis to determine the project's scope and safety[1].
Current Status
The Ontario government is actively pursuing further feasibility assessments and planning for the tunnel, apparently undeterred by the earlier safety and engineering concerns. The Ministry of Transportation frames the tunnel project as a key part of broader efforts to relieve congestion and modernize transport infrastructure in the province[1].
Premier Doug Ford has publicly defended the tunnel project, asserting that it will be built as part of creating a “modern and integrated transportation network,” despite media reports highlighting the previously shelved studies suggesting serious risks[4].
Future Plans
Ford has discussed the tunnel idea with tunneling experts who supply boring machines in places like Scarborough. The three levels of the tunnel will be dedicated to eastbound, westbound traffic, and transit respectively. The new feasibility study commissioned by Ford is two years away from completion[1].
Doug Ford, the Ontario Premier, is dismissing a study commissioned by his government, which warned that tunnelling under Highway 401 could pose risks to public safety and potentially cause roadway collapse. The premier has not specified when the construction of the tunnel under Highway 401 will begin[1].
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner has called on the premier to release the initial studies, but Ford has suggested that the 2021 study, which warned of potential dangers, is "old." Ford is pressing ahead with the plan, launching a new feasibility study, and has stated that the tunnel will be built[1].
[1] Global News, "Exclusive: Ontario government documents reveal 401 tunnel plan had 'potential for roadway collapse'," 13 September 2022. [2] Toronto Star, "Gardiner East twin tunnel plan scrapped, city to rebuild Gardiner Expressway," 25 September 2017. [3] City of Toronto, "Don Valley Parkway," accessed 20 September 2022. [4] CBC News, "We'll do it properly,' Ford says of Hwy. 401 tunnel as docs shed light on safety concerns," 13 September 2022.
- The 401 tunnel project in Ontario, initially proposed in 2019, has faced challenges and concerns, particularly regarding public safety and the structural integrity of the existing roadway, as revealed in government documents obtained by Global News.
- The current political climate in Ontario shows a push towards modernizing the transportation infrastructure, with the Highway 401 tunnel project framed as a key component to alleviate congestion and improve overall transportation systems in the province.
- Despite media reports and early studies suggesting potential risks and dangers associated with the 401 tunnel project, such as the possibility of roadway collapse, Premier Doug Ford has persisted in pursuing further planning, feasibility assessments, and eventually, the construction of the tunnel, as part of a vision for a modern and integrated transportation network in Ontario.
