Abstract Manager

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has completed a Preliminary Design Study for the Bradford Bypass, a new 16.3km controlled access highway corridor that will link Highway 400 to Highway 404. This project, in accordance with Ontario Regulation 697/21 under Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act, aims to connect two major Ontario highways between Simcoe County (Bradford West Gwillimbury) and York Region (King Township and East Gwillimbury).

The Bradford Bypass addresses several key transportation issues:

• Traffic congestion: The project will significantly alleviate existing municipal road network congestion resulting in reduced local community disruption and road safety issues.  
• Future population growth: The new roadway will address projected population growth in Simcoe County and York Region which is expected to increase travel demand and exacerbate existing congestion issues. 
• Regional connectivity and economic development: This northern freeway connection between major highways will lessen inefficient out-of-way travel and overall travel time, while creating greater reliability in the movement of people and goods.

Key constraints included crossing the Holland River watershed where poor soil conditions required 600m long bridges at two river crossings. Culturally significant archaeological sites required a realignment of the highway at two locations. Other challenges included minimizing impacts to hydro transmission corridors, a future municipal road crossing, a Metrolinx rail corridor and a cemetery.  

During the preliminary design stage, the AECOM team refined the previously approved recommended plan. The team developed mainline horizontal and vertical alignments, interchange locations and configurations, and crossing roads using TAC Standards along with the MTO Design Supplement. 

Alternatives were assessed to determine the recommended plan by applying natural, socio-economic, cultural, heritage and other environmental and technical factors to the evaluation process. The Recommended Plan includes an interim four-lane freeway cross section, an ultimate eight-lane cross section with HOV lanes, two freeway-to-freeway interchanges, five crossing road interchanges, and other components including bridges, culverts, stormwater management, wildlife passages, illumination, and intelligent transportation systems.

The Bradford Bypass has been identified as a priority project for the province. MTO has initiated various contracts including advanced construction of a bridge at County Road 4, tree removal along the corridor, reconstruction of the adjacent Highway 400 / County Road 88 interchange, and the detail design of the west section of the Bradford Bypass from Highway 400 to east of County Road 4.

This project demonstrates a balanced approach to transportation infrastructure development by integrating planning, design, construction, and environmental considerations early in the design process.