The new Highway 7 once again promised in 2023 provincial budget
The building of a new four-lane Highway 7 is still on the agenda, according to the recently released 2023 provincial budget.
“The next phase of construction for the new Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph will provide relief to the gridlocked Highway 401 and connect the fast‐growing urban centres of Kitchener,
Waterloo and Guelph,” it reads.
In a statement sent to CTV Kitchener on Monday evening, the Ministry of Transportation said they are currently advancing the preliminary design and obtaining the required approvals for Phases 2 and 3.
“The Frederick Street underpass, which is an advance project for Phase 3 will be tendered this year and construction is planned to begin in 2024,” the statement said.
The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce said while a firm timeline has been up in the air for years, they’re still optimistic.
“The province has always been quite hesitant. They have been quite, I guess, guarded, in providing timelines on this particular project - I guess probably because the delays in the past,” said Art Sinclair the chamber’s vice-president. “So there haven’t been any firm commitments but that key commitment is there that this is a priority project and we expect the province to follow through on their commitment.”
The chamber said the project is needed as the region continues to grow.
“The Region of Waterloo, the growth projections, both in terms of population and economic growth, for the next 30 years are significant, so we need this infrastructure to support this growth and Highway 7 I think is a good component of that infrastructure plan,” said Sinclair.
HISTORY OF THE PROJECT
The proposed plan for Highway 7 has been around for at least three decades and gathered momentum again in 2007.
“Times have changed, now it’s time to change Highway 7,” Donna Cansfield, the former Liberal Minister of Transportation, said in 2007.
Since then there has been incremental progress, most notably the completion of the new Victoria Street Bridge in 2018.
In 2020, the Progressive Conservatives officially committed funding, but no specifics as to timeline were given.
“Our government is moving ahead with a clear commitment of a new Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph,” Mike Harris Jr., the former MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga, said at the time.
At a campaign stop in Kitchener in 2022, Doug Ford promised the expansion would finally happen.
“Yes to a four-lane highway between Kitchener and Guelph,” Ford said at the time. “Yes to a new bridge over the Grand River, we’re saying yes to building Highway 7 and connecting Highway 7 to Conestoga Parkway. Because local families and workers have heard ‘no’ for far too long.”
Earlier this month, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation said the new Highway 8 project is moving forward but no timeline was given.
The ministry suggested those looking for more information should visit the overall projects’ website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.