The Ontario government has announced plans to replace two bridges over Highway 401 near Port Hope.

The project to replace the Choate Road Overpass and Ganaraska River Bridge is part of the province’s work to accommodate the future widening of the highway.

“As Ontario continues to grow, our government is investing historic amounts to protect Ontario by building the new roads, highways and bridges we need to keep drivers moving and our economy growing,” said Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria. “Replacing these bridges near Port Hope is vital for eastern Ontario as it paves the way for widening Highway 401 and will save time for the over 50,000 drivers who rely on this stretch every day.”

The project will support hundreds of construction jobs, ranging from engineers to heavy equipment operators and labourers. In addition to replacing the Choate Road Overpass and Ganaraska River Bridge, work will also be carried out to resurface Highway 401 west of County Road 2/Toronto Road to east of Cranberry Road.

“This project represents a significant investment in the future of Port Hope’s transportation infrastructure. The planned improvements to Highway 401 are a vital step toward building a safer, more efficient and more resilient community,” said Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky. “We are pleased to work in partnership with the Ontario government to bring this vision to life.”

In eastern Ontario, the province has already replaced 20 bridges that will accommodate future widening of Highway 401. Several planning studies are also underway for additional bridge replacements and interchange improvements to accommodate the future widening of the highway.

Approximately 10,000 trucks use Highway 401 each day, transporting $380 million worth of goods.