BRADFORD — The Ontario government is awarding a contract for the detail design of the western section of the Bradford Bypass, marking an important milestone in the province’s plan to build the new four-lane, 16-kilometre highway that will relieve gridlock, save commuters time and keep goods moving across the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

“As Ontario grows at a historic rate, there has never been a more urgent time to get shovels in the ground and build new highways and roads,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Not only will the Bradford Bypass help save a generation of drivers from bumper-to-bumper traffic, but it will also create good-paying jobs and drive economic growth for decades to come.”

The western section of the Bradford Bypass, for which the contract is being awarded, will run 6.5 kilometres from Highway 400 to Simcoe Road 4. In the meantime, preliminary work for the Bradford Bypass is currently underway with construction of a new bridge at Simcoe Road 4 and the widening of County Road 4 from two to four lanes.

"Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is investing in generational projects like the Bradford Bypass to tackle gridlock and get drivers where they need to go, faster," said Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York Simcoe. "For far too long the residents of York Simcoe have been waiting for results on this critical freeway. Today's announcement is the next step in our plan to get shovels in the ground."

The Bradford Bypass will be a vital link for communities in York Region and Simcoe County, providing better connections to jobs and housing. During construction, the project is expected to support up to 2,200 jobs annually and contribute up to $286 million to the province’s GDP.