Questions & Answers

The Study limits extend from 1 km west of Highway 15 to 1 km east of Highway 2/King Street, including the Thousand Island Parkway/Highway 2 interchange.

Ontario's population is expected to grow by approximately 30% by 2041, necessitating improvements to our infrastructure to keep pace. Modernizing public infrastructure and developing a connected transportation network are essential to supporting this growth and bolstering Ontario's economy. The ministry is dedicated to advancing this initiative by completing the environmental assessment and defining the property envelope for the transportation corridor. Our Project Team is committed to developing the best transportation solution, creating opportunities while minimizing impacts. Upgrading Highway 401 will address transportation challenges and unlock opportunities, bringing significant benefits to local and regional communities, and boosting economic development by:

• Supporting future travel demand
• Reducing travel times for both commuters and goods
• Improving connectivity between urban growth centers
• Strengthening access to residential and employment areas
• Promoting greater economic vitality

This Study will follow the approved planning process for a Group ‘B’ project under the Ministry of Transportation’s Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways (2024). Alternatives will be generated and evaluated based on technical and environmental factors and in consultation with Indigenous communities, municipalities, regulatory and review agencies, members of the public and other stakeholders.

Consultation with municipalities within the Study area (City of Kingston, Town of Gananoque, the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, and Frontenac County) will be on-going throughout the Study. Early in the Study, a Municipal Advisory Committee consisting of area municipalities, emergency service providers, school boards and Parks Canada will be established. Two rounds of Municipal Advisory Committee meetings will be held. The first meeting will focus on existing conditions, alternatives, and key details that are essential to the early stages of preliminary design. The second meeting will shift to the Preliminary Recommended Plan, its alignment with municipal plans, and initial considerations for construction staging.

High Occupancy Toll Lanes are not proposed as part of this Project.

Yes. The Project Team will be seeking permission to enter properties in the some of the areas covered by the alternatives for field investigations to support preliminary design.

Once Environmental Assessment approval and land acquisition approval are obtained, ministry staff will reach out to affected property owners to arrange a meeting and begin amicable negotiations for purchasing the required property. Compensation will be based on the fair market value of your property at the time of acquisition, reflecting what similar land would sell for on the open market between a willing buyer and seller. If an agreement cannot be reached, the property may be acquired through expropriation, in accordance with the Expropriations Act. Currently, the EA process is ongoing, and property acquisition timelines have not yet been determined. 

The full details on measures to avoid and mitigate potential environmental impacts from the improvements are still in progress. These will be developed in the coming months and years as we finalize a Technically Preferred Alternative and move forward with its preliminary design.

As part of this Study, noise and air quality assessments will be completed and the Project Team will identify the need for mitigation associated with the Recommended Plan.

The Study is currently in the planning and preliminary design phase, representing an early stage of the overall process, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. This phase will culminate in a Transportation Environmental Study Report, which will be made available for public review. Following the review and obtaining environmental assessment approval, the corridor will be protected. Future engineering tasks will include surveying, testing soil conditions, determining construction material requirements, and developing design details for the expanded highway, interchanges, and bridges. Currently, there is no commitment to a timeline for additional design and construction. The timing and duration of highway construction depend on various factors, including the Project's size and complexity, funding availability, procurement method, and timing of environmental clearances and permits.