Province takes steps to build new highway which will run through Brampton

The Province has announced it has begun the process of acquiring the land intended to become the GTA West Corridor, or the 413, which will run through Brampton.

The proposed highway would be 50 km long and run from Highway 400 in the east to the Highway 401/407 ETR interchange area in the west through Halton, Peel, and York Regions.

While not everyone is in favour of the new highway, the Brampton Board of Trade (BBOT) announced their support of the Province’s decision.

“The project will bring needed relief to congested local roadways and help facilitate the movement of goods across the region, in the process, unlocking billions of dollars of economic activity and thousands of jobs,” reads an announcement from the BBOT.

“Brampton businesses know that the GTA West Corridor will help their employees get to work and their goods make it to market sooner and faster, and it remains a matter of highest priority to get it approved and built without further delay.”

Conservation groups, however, continue to oppose the idea of a new highway, warning that its construction would mean paving over 2,000 acres of Ontario farmland, some of the most fertile farmland in the province.

There is also concern it could impact parts of the Credit River and Humber River watersheds, which flow into Lake Ontario and represent a significant source of drinking water for residents.

The Province has suggested the new highway is necessary to reduce traffic congestion on Ontario’s busiest highways.

However, those opposed have suggested the money that would be used for it, it’s expected to cost billions of dollars, would be better served for projects such as public transit.

Previously, Brampton City Council passed a motion proposing a compromise, an urban boulevard similar to what is commonly seen in European cities.

“We continue to push our urban boulevard as a compromise solution that’s really united everyone around the table,” Mayor Patrick Brown said during a press conference last month. “We’ve had both environmentalists and industry professionals support our proposal.”

While the urban boulevard idea appeals to Brampton City Council, the Province has the final say, and it appears the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario intends to move forward with a new highway after all.