Major Widening Project for Bathurst Street in York Region Begins After Long Delay

📅 2 weeks ago

The long-awaited $127-million Bathurst Street widening project in York Region commences, aiming to improve traffic flow and community infrastructure.

The long-anticipated widening of Bathurst Street in York Region has finally commenced after being on hold for over a decade to avoid conflicts with another major project. This $127-million initiative aims to enhance a four-kilometre stretch of Bathurst Street, extending from just north of Highway 7 to Major Mackenzie Drive. The project is expected to be completed by 2028 and is being managed by Fermar Paving as the general contractor, with Parsons Corporation serving as the design consultant.
The scope of the project includes widening the existing four-lane roadway to accommodate six lanes, thereby facilitating increased traffic flow. In addition to the roadway expansion, significant infrastructure work will be carried out. This includes the installation of over two kilometres of a 300-millimetre-diameter watermain, and the construction of two box culverts measuring 10 metres wide and four metres high, with lengths reaching up to 52 metres. Furthermore, one set of existing twin culverts will undergo rehabilitation and extension to support the widening, while two additional overflow culverts will be installed utilizing micro tunnelling techniques, according to Salim Alibhai, the capital delivery director for York Region.
The project is designed to support growing population demands and community expansion. It aims to alleviate travel delays, promote active transportation, enhance pedestrian safety, and improve transit and emergency service reliability. Alibhai highlights the introduction of high occupancy/transit lanes, which will extend from Major Mackenzie Drive to the Highway 7 ramp, linking directly with York Region’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network.
Bathurst Street serves as a boundary between the cities of Richmond Hill and Vaughan, with an average of 60,000 vehicles navigating this section daily. This traffic volume underscores the critical need for the expansion, as articulated by Alibhai. The roots of this project trace back over 15 years, initially identified in York Region’s master transportation plan in 2009. Design work by Parsons commenced in 2011, with original construction slated to begin in 2014. However, this timeline was adjusted to accommodate the concurrent construction of the Yonge Street BRT line, aiming to minimize disruption to commuters and neighboring communities.
To mitigate the construction impact on local homes and businesses, the project will implement measures such as maintaining access and ensuring that four lanes remain operational during peak travel times. Nighttime work may be scheduled for specific tasks, including paving, to lessen the disruption for travelers and expedite the overall timeline.
Communication with residents and businesses has been prioritized, with updates disseminated through road signage, social media, construction notices, and direct mail. Notices were sent out last fall to inform stakeholders of the upcoming construction, followed by a postcard this spring announcing the project’s commencement.
Alibhai also acknowledged potential challenges during the construction process, particularly concerning high groundwater levels in certain areas. Portions of the project will traverse river valleys and creek sites, where groundwater may be encountered at relatively shallow depths during excavation.
During peak construction periods, expected between July and September each year, approximately six to eight crews comprising 35 to 50 workers will be on-site, facilitating efficient progress towards completing this substantial road project.

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