Frequently Asked Questions
Project Overview and Benefits
The purpose of this current study is to move forward with plans to improve Highways 6 and 401 by addressing capacity and safety needs. The study will include a review of the approved Preliminary Design, appropriate design refinements to address current highway standards, and an update to the Environmental Assessment. The Environmental Assessment will include satisfying the requirements of the MTO Class EA, commitments made in previous EA studies (8-00-00 and WP 65-76-05) and the Conditions of Approval set by the Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) (for components approved under WP 65-76-05).
The key elements of this Project include:
- Phase 1 (Completed):
- Replacement of the Puslinch Concession Road 7 Bridge over Highway 401.
- Phase 2 (Completed):
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- Replacement of the Hanlon Expressway intersection at Wellington Road 34 with a bridge (no connection to the highway);
- Closure of the Hanlon Expressway intersection at Maltby Road / Concession Road 4;
- A new Hanlon Expressway interchange approximately mid-way between Wellington Road 34 and Maltby Road / Concession Road 4 linking Wellington Road 34 on the west side of the Hanlon Expressway to Concession Road 7 on the east side of the Hanlon Expressway; and
- Reconstruction of the section Concession Road 7 between the new interchange and Wellington Road 34;
- Phase 3 (New!)
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- the Highway 6/Brock Road South underpass structure is approaching the end of its service life and Phase 3 will provide replacement of the Highway 6/Brock Road South structure and construction of an interim interchange, including reconfiguration and expansion of the Highway 6 / Brock Road South commuter parking lot.
- Remaining proposed works:
- A new controlled access four-lane alignment of Highway 6 west of the existing highway, from Highway 6 at Maddaugh Road northerly to Highway 401 (approximately 6 km) and connection to Highway 401;
- Improvements to the Highway 6 / Maddaugh Road intersection;
- Bridges to carry Calfass Road and Concession Road 1 over the new alignment of Highway 6;
- A new two-lane connection road north of the community of Morriston (approximately 1km), linking the existing and new alignments of Highway 6;
- Reconfiguration of the Highway 401 interchange at Highway 6 (Hanlon Expressway) and necessary modifications to connect the interim Highway 6 / Brock Road South interchange to the ultimate highway improvements;
- Widening of approximately 3 km of Highway 401 to 10 lanes between the two Highway 6 interchanges, with provision for future HOV lanes.
This Project aligns with ongoing regional planning and reduces the number of intersections along the Highway 6 South alignment. These improvements address current and projected future operation issues including traffic congestion within the Highway 6 South and Highway 401 corridors and creates a more efficient and continuous link for traffic between Hamilton and Guelph.
Other benefits of this Project will be a decrease in exhaust emissions and heavy truck traffic within Morriston and Aberfoyle communities as well as an upgrade to the existing Highway infrastructure within the Project Limits.
Further details about the benefits of the Project’s highway improvements are shared on the Project Website’s consultation materials.
Environmental Assessment Process
The preliminary design for the highway improvements were approved through the following previous projects:
Highway 6
- The Preliminary Design phase of this study was documented in the EA report for Highway 6 Freelton Northerly 16.9 km to Guelph (W.P. 65-76-05), September 1995, and in the 1997 Addendum. A Review under the EA Act was completed by the Ministry of Environment in June 2007. A Notice of Approval to Proceed with the Undertaking was granted by Order in Council on January 22, 2009.
Highway 401
- The Highway 401 widening and Hwy 401/Brock Road interchange modifications were amended by a Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) in 2012 for the Preliminary Design and Class EA for Highway 401 from west of Hespeler Road to the Wellington/Halton Boundary (G.W.P 8-00-00).
The status of each Project phase is:
- Phase 1 (Completed):
- This project finalized the design and completed a Design and Construction Report (DCR) for this phase.
- Phase 2 (Completed):
- This Project completed the design and EA updates in advance of the Design-Build contract. The design-build contractor finalized DCRs associated with Phase 2. These DCRs are available to view on our website (link to: Reports - Highways 6 & 401 Improvements)
- Phase 3 (New!)
- This Project includes the Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment Study for Highway 401 & Highway 6 South Interim Interchange Improvements. The Project will address the required replacement of the Highway 6/Brock Road South underpass and examine interim improvements to the Highway 401 and Highway 6/Brock Road South Interchange.
- Reasonable alternatives to address the required interim interchange improvements will be developed and evaluated leading to the selection of a preferred alternative.
- All remaining portions of the Project:
- the Project Team continues to undertake the necessary environmental investigations, design refinements and EA updates.
All reports available for public review completed as part of this Project are available on the Project Website page, including the DCR for Phase 1: the Replacement of Concession 7 bridge over Highway 401.
The DCRs for Phase 2, Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway Midblock Interchange Project are available for review in the Reports page.
The previously approved 1995 EA, 1997 Addendum and 2012 Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) are also available for review on the Project Website.
Any future publicly available reports for the remaining portions of the Project, including the Transportation Environmental Study Report for Phase 3, Highway 401 & Highway 6 South Interim Interchange Improvements, will be shared on the Project Website.
The Project Team is actively consulting with staff from the Township of Puslinch, Wellington County, the City of Hamilton and the City of Guelph throughout the study to discuss the previously approved Preliminary Design, proposed refinements, and nearby approved / ongoing / future municipal studies and construction.
Construction staging will be coordinated with the municipal projects and with other MTO projects to minimize traffic impacts as much as possible and minimize out of way travel.
Consultation and Engagement
Consultation with the public, Indigenous communities, regulatory agencies, and municipalities has been ongoing since the Notification of Project Commencement was advertised in spring 2017 and will continue throughout the study.
Notice of the Design and Construction Report (DCR) Submission for the Replacement of Concession 7 Bridge over Highway 401 was delivered to project contacts in summer of 2018 and the comment period was held from August 20th to September 18th, 2018.
A Public Information Centre (PIC) was held in Winter 2021 to provide an opportunity for members of the public to discuss the study and proposed refinements to the Preliminary Design with the Project Team.
A second PIC was held in Fall 2021 to present the initiation of implementation Phase 2, the Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway Midblock Interchange, including an updated design, summary of environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures, and next steps for the Design-Build contract.
A virtual Public Information Centre for Phase 3 of the Project (Highway 401 and Highway 6/Brock Road South Interim Interchange Improvements GWP 3041-23-00) is tentatively scheduled for fall 2025.
Communication between interested persons and the Project Team is on-going. To join our contact list, to receive future Project notifications please complete contact page form or email the Project Team at ProjectTeam@Highways6and401hamiltontoguelph.ca.
The Project Team is actively consulting with the staff from the Township of Puslinch, Wellington County, the City of Guelph and the City of Hamilton, as well as emergency responders and regulatory agencies. Consultation will continue throughout design and into construction.
There are several ways to get involved with this study:
- Visit the Project Website for updates at highways6and401hamiltontoguelph.ca;
- Ask to be added to the Project Mailing List to be notified of all future public consultation activities by email or mail (please specify);
- Submit a written comment through the “Contact Us” section of this website, by email, or by mail at any time; or,
- Call a Project Team member to discuss any comments or questions you might have at any time.
Consultation is a requirement of the Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) for Provincial Transportation Facilities. The Project Team reviews all input received.
Project Schedule
The Ministry is moving forward with engineering design work necessary to get this project construction ready. Scheduling of construction of remaining portions of the Project including the widening of Highway 401, Highway 401 interchange improvements and construction of the new Highway 6 route south of Highway 401, will depend on several factors including acquiring property, relocation of utilities, environmental permits and approvals, and available funding.
This project is a complex highway expansion initiative that is expected to take several years to construct. A phased approach is being used for construction of the Project. The first phase (Phase 1) was the replacement of the Concession Road 7 Bridge over Highway 401 which started in 2019 and was completed in 2020. The second phase (Phase 2) was the construction of the Midblock Interchange which was completed in fall of 2025. The third phase of the Project (Phase 3) is the Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment Study for the interim improvements for the Highway 401 and Highway 6/Brock Road South Interchange. The Preliminary Design and EA Study for Phase 3 is ongoing, with construction anticipated to start in 2027.
Details of construction timing for subsequent phases will be provided as they become available.
Environmental Issues and Concerns
The Highway 6 and 401 Improvements Project components have been previously studied and received approval under previous Environmental Assessments (EAs) including the 1995 WP 65-76-05, the 1997 Addendum to WP 65-76-05 and the 2012 EA completed for GWP 8-00-00. The Project Team is updating the previous EAs by completing environmental investigations to update existing conditions information, inform the impact assessment and identify proper mitigation measures and permitting requirements for the recommended plan.
Commitments made in previous EA studies and requirements of the MTO Class EA (amended 2000) as well as the Conditions of Approval set by the Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) (for components approved under WP 65-76-05) will be reviewed and addressed throughout the Project. The results of these investigations, the MTO Class EA process and the status of Conditions of Approval will be documented in applicable study reports and EA documentation for each phase of the Project.