‘Accelerated’ environmental assessments could fast-track Highway 413and road projects in Ontario [Video]

Ontario’s push to build Highway 413 and other massive road projects could hit the fast lane under new legislation that would speed up the environmental assessment process and see construction crews work around the clock.

Transportation Minister and Brampton MPP Prabmeet Sarkaria made the announcement in Caledon on Thursday and said the proposed changes would streamline construction on “priority highway projects” like the 413, the Bradford Bypass and the Garden City Skyway bridge.

With Ontario expecting a population boom of some two million more residents by 2031, Sarkaria said speeding up construction on new projects is a priority.

“If we don’t accelerate an increase in capacity beyond our existing highway and rapid transit projects, all 400-series highways in the GTHA, including Highway 407, will be at or exceed capacity within the next decade,” he said.

Earlier this year, the province began looking at buying land for the proposed 52-kilometre Highway …