Steps are being taken to install concrete median barriers along a stretch of the 401 in Chatham-Kent.
On Thursday, the province took the next step to improve safety on Highway 401 between Tilbury and London as Ontario is proceeding with an Expression of Interest to procure a contractor to widen and install concrete median barriers on the first 11 km of the project between Tilbury and Merlin Road in Chatham-Kent.
“We are committed to making sure that our transportation system works for all Ontarians,” stated Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation, in a press release.
“Ontario’s roads are among the safest in North America – and our government intends to keep it that way.”
The project involves widening 11 km of Highway 401 from four to six lanes, a new storm sewer system, safety improvements, and the construction of the concrete median barrier.
Building a concrete median barrier will help improve safety and reduce the likelihood of cross median collisions, Provincial officials stated.
“People’s safety on Ontario’s roads and highways, especially on Highway 401, is one of our government’s top priorities,” stated Jeff Yurek, MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, in a press release.
“Our government continues to take real action on our commitment to widen and install concrete barriers on this dangerous stretch of highway to make our roads safer for drivers and get people where they want to go across southwestern Ontario faster.”
Alysson Storey, who has spearhead the ‘Build The Barrier’ group in Chatham-Kent, said this week’s “wintery chaos” reinforces the need for the barriers.
“The irony is not lost on us that the same day of an announcement from the Minister was a day of very dangerous conditions on a very dangerous highway,” Storey said in a press release.
“It just reinforced to us that we cannot afford to delay this project any longer. Lives are at risk every single day here on Highway 401.”
Storey said the recent collisions included at least one crossover, vehicles in medians and ditches and resulted in multiple closures of the 401, including full closures of westbound lanes at Colonel Talbot Road, Communication Road, Bloomfield Road and Queen’s Line.
“This also puts our emergency responders at unnecessary risk, which no one should find acceptable,” she said.
The announcement from the Province on February 26 th states they are proceeding with
an Expression of Interest to procure a contractor to widen and install concrete median
Storey said she welcomes the Expression of Interest “to get us one step closer to saving lives in Carnage Alley.
“But when timelines aren’t included in a project announcement, it obviously causes us concern. Timelines are important accountability tools and seeing them included would send a message that this government is serious about road safety. After (Wednesday) night it’s clear we have no time to waste. Let’s get to work,” Storey added.
Build the Barrier is a grassroots advocacy group formed in September 2017, calling for concrete median barriers on Highway 401 between London and Tilbury – a total of 117km.
