Ontario is moving forward with environmental studies surrounding a series of improvement projects along Highway 401 in Quinte West.
Information about the upcoming works was presented to Quinte West council during Wednesday’s council meeting.
The series of projects involves widening the road bed to accommodate extra lanes, though it has not yet been decided whether to widen the four-lane highway to six total, or eight total lanes. The studies will also look at work required to make the highway safe to increase the speed limit to 110km/h, which would require adjusting some of the sharper curves to accommodate higher speed.
Bridges and overpasses are also due for major overhauls or replacements, as most of the highway bridges in Quinte West are approaching 100 years old. Studies are examining expanding the bridges as well to include higher traffic flow coming off the expanded highway.
No plans are set in stone yet as impact studies have yet to be completed.
