Ontario Construction News staff
The Ontario government has issued two requests for proposals (RFPs) for companies to complete detailed design work on the central and eastern sections of the Bradford Bypass.
RFPs cover two segments stretching from Simcoe County Road 4 in the west to Highway 404 in the east. Work will involve field and archaeological investigations, property acquisitions, consultations, and finalizing the preferred design options for these sections.
The government plans to award contracts for the work by fall 2025.
Crews have already completed tree clearing along the proposed route of the western section to facilitate utility relocations and prepare the path for the bypass. Last year, the province awarded contracts for detailed design work and a construction manager for the western section. Construction of a new southbound lane on Highway 400, connecting to the Bradford Bypass, is also underway.
Once finished, the 16.3-kilometre bypass will link Highway 404 in the east to Highway 400 in the west. The project is expected to create up to 2,200 jobs annually and contribute up to $286 million to Ontario’s GDP during construction.
“Today’s announcement is another step forward in our government’s commitment to completing the Bradford Bypass,” said Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York-Simcoe. “By moving forward with RFPs for these sections, we’re one step closer to delivering a project that will get people where they need to go faster.”
The Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024 received Royal Assent in November 2024, helping to fast-track priority highway projects, including the Bradford Bypass, Highway 413, and the Garden City Skyway bridge twinning project.
A report from the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis found gridlock costs Ontario’s economy $56 billion annually.
