Ford government refuses to release completed work on Hwy. 401 tunnel idea
Global News
Ontario is refusing to release already completed work on the viability of Premier Doug Ford's Highway 401 tunnel vision after signing a $9.1 million contract to study it again.
Ontario is refusing to release already completed work on the viability of Premier Doug Ford’s Highway 401 tunnel vision after signing a $9.1 million agreement for a Canadian company to re-study the plan.
As part of its Fall Economic Statement, the province confirmed it had awarded a contract to WSP Canada Inc. to consider how to build an expressway beneath Ontario’s busiest artery — and whether it is possible at all.
The fresh study comes four years after secret internal work on the same plan was paused. That work was prompted when private companies sent the idea to the government, catching the imagination of the premier.
Based on snippets of heavily redacted communications between civil servants, Global News previously reported studying the idea had uncovered “several financial and construction challenges and risks to the project.”
Those included, “Risks to public safety from impacts of the tunnel to Highway 401 such as potential for roadway collapse, as well as availability of labour, market capacity/interest, and securing financing).”
Now, privacy officials with the Ministry of Transportation have denied a request through freedom of information to release any part of the report.
In a letter, the government refused to share even a redacted version of the report, claiming it would mean publishing cabinet records, advice to government and third-party data, as well as posing a risk to the province’s economy.
After Global News first reported the risk of collapse, Premier Ford said the internal studies would have no bearing on his renewed push to build the tunnel.
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