The Ontario government has announced the completion of construction of the Grand River bridges on Highway 401 in Kitchener and the rehabilitation of the King Street overpass between Kitchener and Cambridge.

The government says the project lays the groundwork for future widening of the highway from six to 10 lanes.

“Our government is protecting Ontario with historic investments in highway infrastructure to help families spend less time in traffic and ensure businesses can move goods more reliably,” said Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria. “Replacing the Grand River bridges will help strengthen the economy across southwestern Ontario and shorten commute times in Kitchener and Cambridge as the region continues to grow.”

The Grand River bridges carry traffic east-west through the Waterloo region and are located between the Homer Watson Boulevard and King Street interchanges. The new bridges will support tens of thousands of vehicles daily, including a significant share of Ontario’s commercial traffic.

"Investments like the replacement of the Grand River bridges on Highway 401 and the ongoing work to build a new Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph are investments for residents and businesses in Kitchener and our broader region,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

Ontario is also advancing construction of the Frederick Street bridge – a milestone in its plan to widen Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph.