Graham Rd. exit sign on the Hwy. 401. (File photo by Matt Weverink, Blackburn News)

Share via: Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

More

The Ministry of Transportation says it’s planning to widen Hwy. 401 from Tilbury to London from four to six lanes.

But there is still no solid timeline for when that will happen.

An environmental assessment is underway to eventually build a concrete barrier to separate eastbound and westbound lanes on that 135 km stretch of the highway. An expansion to include extra lanes is part of that study.

MTO spokesperson Liane Fisher Bloxam says part of that plan includes filling in the grass median with a sewer system and paved shoulders.

The MTO says an environmental assessment can take up to four years before any construction is started.

In the meantime, installation of high-tension cable barriers is expected to start in Tilbury next month with a completion date of 2022.

The “Build The Barrier” group has been consistently calling for a concrete barrier on the stretch of highway it calls “Carnage Alley” to stop vehicles from crossing the median and killing someone during a crash.

The MTO says high-tension cable barriers are designed and crash tested to redirect or contain errant vehicles from crossing medians.