Staff Reporter
To improve road safety and keep people and goods moving in southwestern Ontario, the Ontario government has awarded a contract to design, build and finance the widening of Highway #3 between Essex and Leamington.
GIP Paving Inc. has been awarded the contract to widen Highway 3 from two to four lanes. As many as 17,300 vehicles travel this stretch of highway per day.
The highway expansion project is a priority for the province along with plans to help the City of Windsor build a new interchange connecting Highway 401 to Lauzon Parkway.
The Highway 3 expansion project includes:
- Widening Highway 3 from two to four lanes for 15.6 kilometres between Essex and Leamington;
- Widening five existing intersections and adding traffic signals to three intersections that currently operate without signals;
- Permanently closing four side road intersections to improve road safety along the corridor; and
- Resurfacing existing lanes.
The government is also supporting the City of Windsor by initiating a procurement for an Environmental Assessment and design of a new interchange connecting Highway 401 to Lauzon Parkway. The interchange will support increased opportunities for trade and better access to the Windsor-Detroit border.
“Our government is making it safer and easier to travel in southwestern Ontario,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “By advancing critical transportation projects, like the widening of Highway 3, and supporting plans to connect Highway 401 to Lauzon Parkway in Windsor, we’re also supporting economic development and increasing trade opportunities across Ontario’s borders.”
Widening Highway 3 to four lanes from Essex to Leamington is one of 40 projects identified in the government’s Connecting the Southwest: A Draft Transportation Plan for Southwestern Ontario, to better connect communities and create a safe and reliable transportation network.
“Residents of Leamington have been waiting for the expansion of Highway 3 for years to help relieve gridlock on local roads and make their communities safer. I am so pleased that our government is delivering real progress on this project that will make a difference for drivers and help support the local economy.” said Trevor Jones
MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington.
Early project work and detail design is currently underway with construction expected to begin in 2024.
