The Ontario government has taken another step toward building the long-planned Bradford Bypass, awarding several key contracts to advance design work and overall project oversight. The latest commitments mark a major milestone in the province’s bid to construct the 16-kilometre highway link between Highways 400 and 404, a project the government says will ease gridlock, cut travel times and support thousands of jobs across York Region and Simcoe County.
The Ministry of Transportation said Friday that contracts have been issued for the detailed design of the central and eastern sections of the route. A separate program management consultant contract has also been awarded to oversee the full project, including design coordination, quality assurance, scheduling and construction monitoring. According to the province, the Bradford Bypass is expected to support more than 2,200 jobs per year once construction is underway and contribute roughly $286 million annually to Ontario’s GDP.
“Our government is protecting Ontario by making historic investments in highway infrastructure that will strengthen the economy in the face of U.S. tariffs and global economic uncertainty,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “The Bradford Bypass will cut gridlock, shorten commute times, strengthen east-west connections between Highways 400 and 404 and keep people and goods moving through one of the fastest growing parts of the Greater Golden Horseshoe.”
The detailed design assignments were awarded to WSP Canada Inc. and Stantec Consulting Ltd. Their work will cover the sections running from Highway 404 in the east to Simcoe County Road 4 in the west. As part of the design phase, teams will undertake field studies, consult with Indigenous communities, coordinate utility relocations and finalize plans for both segments. Once complete, the province estimates the new highway could save drivers up to 35 minutes compared with existing local routes.
The government says the project responds to long-standing calls for improved east-west transportation capacity in the rapidly growing region. “Our government’s mandate to protect Ontario includes delivering the Bradford Bypass, which residents across York-Simcoe have been asking governments to build for decades,” said Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York-Simcoe. “Today’s announcement builds on our substantial progress to-date to get shovels in the ground and finally make this project a reality for our region.”
Work is already underway on the western section of the corridor. The province awarded design and construction management contracts for that segment last year, leading to early tasks such as tree clearing along the proposed route, utility relocation preparation, and construction of a temporary detour at 10 Sideroad to support a future bridge and interchange. Crews are also advancing work on a new southbound lane on Highway 400 that will eventually connect to the Bypass.
Municipal leaders in the surrounding communities welcomed the new contracts, pointing to anticipated economic growth and relief from chronic congestion. “East Gwillimbury is excited to see the Bradford Bypass move into this next stage. The project aligns with our Town’s Official Plan and supports the economic growth we are already experiencing in our community. Connecting Highways 404 and 400 will provide additional travel options for residents, businesses, and visitors. As our communities continue to grow, we must have the infrastructure in place to help people get where they’re going safely and efficiently,” said Brian Johns, Acting Mayor of East Gwillimbury.
Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor James Leduc also emphasized regional benefits. “Today’s announcement reflects the strong provincial commitment to improving how people move across our region. The investments being made in the Bradford Bypass and surrounding infrastructure will help reduce gridlock, support economic growth, and get families home approximately 30 minutes faster. Bradford West Gwillimbury, together with our neighbours in East Gwillimbury, is grateful for this continued attention to our growing communities, and we look forward to seeing this important work move ahead.”
Industry groups likewise framed the project as a critical piece of transportation infrastructure that will support long-term economic competitiveness. “Advancing work on the Bradford Bypass is a meaningful step toward tackling Ontario’s gridlock crisis and protecting the province’s economic growth,” said Steven Crombie of the Ontario Road Builders’ Association. Sharon Armstrong of the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association added, “Ontario’s infrastructure depends on a reliable, close-to-market aggregate supply, and today’s announcement reinforces the importance of building the projects that grow our economy. Design today means shovels in the ground tomorrow — and that keeps Ontario moving.”
Nadia Todorova, executive director of the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario, called the move “welcome news for the province,” while LiUNA Local 183 business manager Jack Oliveira said the highway will create jobs and strengthen construction-sector capacity.
The province says the project has been enabled in part by the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024, which granted the government new authorities to fast-track priority highway projects, including the Bradford Bypass, Highway 413 and the Garden City Skyway twinning project.
With major design work now underway, the government expects planning and construction activity to continue ramping up. Officials say the Bradford Bypass remains a central piece of Ontario’s broader strategy to expand highway infrastructure, support economic growth and meet the demands of a fast-growing region.
