Expansion of Highway 427 should provide relief to some of Peel’s transportation woes.

Over the next three years, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Ontario will spend $616 million to expand Highway 427, says Jim Faught, communications director of LINK427.

LINK427 is the consortium of companies selected by the province to design, build, finance and maintain the expansion project.

Faught recently spoke to regional council to bring them up to speed on the project, which, he said, will have a number of traffic impacts on Peel.

“You’re 10 years too late,” said Caledon Mayor Allan Thompson, adding the highway will be at capacity when it opens. “People are drowning in traffic.”

Beginning in 2018, Faught said Highway 427 will be expanded by 6.6 kilometres from Highway 7 to Major Mackenzie Drive, in Vaughan, and Finch Avenue will be widened by 4.4 kilometres to Highway 7 in Toronto. Construction should end in 2021.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Thompson told Faught. “I’m glad it’s here (referring to highway expansion). We do not have enough infrastructure to handle growth.”

According to a report from Peel public works commissioner Janette Smith, the expansion project was initiated to alleviate congestion on Highway 427 and surrounding roads such as Highway 50 in Peel.

About $1.8 billion in goods move through Peel every day and four out of nine jobs in the region are in industries that depend on the movement of goods.

Highway 50 currently serves as the primary north-south transportation route, connecting north-eastern Brampton to Highway 427 at Highway 7. The report says approximately 46,500 vehicles use Highway 50 every day.