Public consultations scheduled on second phase of Highway 407 extension

Construction on extension to Highway 35/115 to begin in fall with completion by 2020

By kawarthaNOW -
Published | Updated
An aerial photograph from January 2015 of the first phase of the Highway 407 East project, looking east from Salem Road in Ajax. The second phase of the project, extending Highway 407 to Highway 35/115, will begin in the fall of 2015. (Photo courtesy of 407 East Development Group)
An aerial photograph from January 2015 of the first phase of the Highway 407 East project, looking east from Salem Road in Ajax. The second phase of the project, extending Highway 407 to Highway 35/115, will begin in the fall of 2015. (Photo courtesy of 407 East Development Group)

The consortium responsible for the second phase of the Highway 407 East project — which will extend Highway 407 to Highway 35/115 connecting to the City of Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough — is holding community consultations in Hampton on Monday, July 6th and in Bowmanville on Wednesday, July 8th.

Blackbird Infrastructure Group says the purpose of the consultations is to obtain community feedback on construction-related activities along the entire highway corridor, as well as construction of road and watercourse structures in two segments of the highway corridor between Harmony Road and Taunton Road.

The Highway 407 East project is being built in two phases. The first phase, awarded to the 407 East Development Group, includes the section from Brock Road to Harmony Road and Highway 412, connecting it to Highway 401. The first phase is expected to be completed by the fall of 2015.

The second phase includes the 22-kilometre extension of Highway 407 from Harmony Road in Oshawa to Highway 35/115, as well as Highway 418 — a 10-kilometre north-south corridor to Highway 401 east of Oshawa. In March 2015, the Ontario government awarded Blackbird Infrastructure Group with a $1.2-billion contract to design, build, and maintain the second phase.

Unlike the privately owned 407 ETR, the Ontario government will own Highway 407 East and will set and collect tolls for this portion of the highway. It claims the toll fees will be less than those for 407 ETR and will be used to fund for infrastructure and transit.

Phase 2 of the Highway 407 East project (map courtesy of Blackbird Infrastructure Group)
Phase 2 of the Highway 407 East project (map courtesy of Blackbird Infrastructure Group)
Construction on the second phase is set to begin in the fall, with the first section of the extension (Harmony Road to Taunton Road) to open in December 2017 and the last section (Taunton Road to Highway 35/115) to be completed by 2020.

Blackbird Infrastructure Group is holding two Public Information Centres to begin the consultation process. The first will be held at Solina Community Hall (1964 Concession Road 6, Hampton) on Monday, July 6th. There will be two sessions, from 11:30 am to 1:30 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The second will be held at Garnett B. Rickard Recreation Complex (2440 Highway 2, Bowmanville) on Wednesday, July 8th from 5 to 8 p.m.

If you can’t attend the consultations, you can view the documents and comment online by visiting www.407eastphase2.ca.

The consultation documents include details on consultation plans, temporary and permanent road closures, building demolition, archaeology work, environmental assessment, and more.

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