Ontario is kicking the tires on an infrastructure project that will make the province's $16.8 billion GO train expansion look like a cute side project.
What happened: The Ontario government will begin studying the feasibility of building a tunnel as long as 60 kilometres under Highway 401, Canada’s busiest highway. If completed, it would be one of the world’s longest tunnels.
- Premier Doug Ford says the proposed tunnel would be toll-free and have corridors for both vehicles and public transit.
Why it’s happening: Unsurprising to anyone who commutes in the GTA, Toronto’s traffic congestion is the worst of any city in North America. On top of infuriating drivers who are perpetually stuck in gridlock, congestion costs the city $11 billion annually in lost productivity.
Why it matters: The tunnel isn’t just massive by Canadian standards — it would be one of the largest infrastructure projects in the world. An undertaking of this size will surely come with an eye-popping price tag and a lengthy timeline.
- A similar project in Boston that was only 6 kilometres took two decades and at least $14.8 billion to complete.
Bottom line: The ultimate length of the tunnel will reportedly depend on cost estimates, but regardless of the price tag, Ford is adamant that a version of the tunnel will get built.—LA