Welcome
Welcome to the website for Highway 401 improvements from Hespeler Road to Townline Road in the City of Cambridge.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has retained Stantec Consulting Ltd. to complete a Design and Construction Report (DCR) Addendum to address Highway 401 eastbound ground improvements and platform widening at the Highway 401 Townline Road interchange. Due to the presence of the soft muskeg soils in this location, the Highway 401 eastbound on-ramp will be closed during construction to allow the ground improvements and grading work to take place from the existing Highway 401 road platform for construction vehicle stability and worker safety. The ground improvements will occur in construction season 1. Following this work, the eastbound on-ramp will be reopened to traffic and remaining improvements on Highway 401 near Townline Road will be completed.
This website provides a copy of the DCR Addendum (2025) and a Notice of DCR Addendum as part of the 30-day comment period. The 2019 DCR is also provided in the Documentation section for reference.
The overall study area and location of the project area relevant to the addendum work is shown on the key plan below. This project is located on Highway 401 from 0.2 km west of Franklin Boulevard to 2.1 km east of Townline Road in the City of Cambridge and County of Wellington.
Reason for the Addendum
The DCR Addendum is based on the previously completed 2019 report: Detailed Design and Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) study for Improvements on Highway 401 from Hespeler Road to Townline Road in the City of Cambridge, Region of Waterloo. The document underwent 30 day public review from March 12, 2019 to April 10, 2019, after which time the project proceeded to construction.
An area of deep muskeg (organic) material was encountered within the footprint of the planned embankment widening on Highway 401 east of Townline Road in the eastbound lanes during construction of the Highway 401 Cambridge project.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has retained Stantec Consulting Ltd. to complete a Design and Construction Report (DCR) Addendum to address Highway 401 eastbound ground improvements and platform widening at the Highway 401 Townline Road interchange. Due to the presence of the soft muskeg soils in this location, the Highway 401 eastbound on-ramp will be closed during construction to allow the ground improvements and grading work to take place from the existing Highway 401 road platform for construction vehicle stability and worker safety.
This project includes the following improvements:
- Highway 401 eastbound ground improvements in the area of muskeg (organic material) and platform widening
- Median storm sewer and tall wall median barrier east of Townline Road
- Highway 401 eastbound and westbound pavement rehabilitation
- Pavement markings and signage to implement High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes for Highway 401 eastbound from Franklin Blvd to Townline Rd
- Illumination modifications
Upon completion of the DCR Addendum, these documents will be made available here.
Previous Study Context
The Highway 401 from Hespeler Road to Townline Road project identified a recommended Plan for future transportation needs in the study area. Since the issuance of the Notice of Study Commencement in May 2014 (formerly GWP 3060-11-00), the project was divided into two phases to support construction staging.
Phase I, GWP 3125-07-00, construction was completed in 2018 and included the replacement of the Franklin Boulevard bridge, some interchange work, and replacement of guiderail and municipal illumination on Franklin Boulevard.
Phase II, GWP 3222-15-00 was constructed in 2024. Phase II included
- Widening of Highway 401 to ten lanes, including Managed Lanes (previously named High Occupancy Vehicle lanes)
- Reconstruction of the Highway 401 interchange at Hespeler Road
- Replacement of the Hespeler Road bridge (with provision for pedestrian/cyclist travel across Highway 401, in accordance with the active transportation goals of the Region of Waterloo and the City of Cambridge)
- Reconstruction of ramp tie-ins at Franklin Boulevard and Townline Road interchanges
- Retaining walls as needed
- Expansion of the commuter parking lot at the Townline Road interchange
- Drainage improvements, illumination, overhead signs and traffic signals
- A section of new noise wall constructed along the south side of Highway 401, west of Franklin Boulevard
- Rehabilitation of the Wellington Road 32 Underpass
The DCR for Phase II was made available for public review from March 12, 2019 to April 10, 2019, after which time the project proceeded to tendering and construction. The DCR included details about the following:
- Identifying appropriate improvements
- Determining potential impacts
- Identification of consultation activities undertaken
- Outlining environmental protection/mitigation measures
A Design and Construction Report Addendum has been prepared in 2025 for a ramp closure at Highway 401/Townline Road, and is available here.