OPP close part of Hwy. 401 given significant Boxing Day congestion [Video]

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) shut down a portion of Highway 401 Thursday to ensure “the safety of all” given the “significant congestion” Boxing Day drivers were causing.

The OPP warned of the delays in a post on X at 8:03 a.m., which detailed a serious backlog at the Highway 401 westbound exit to Trafalgar Road in Halton Hills. Toronto Premium Outlets, a large outdoor shopping centre, is located just off the exit.

In a traffic-camera image accompanying the post, a row of illuminated taillights from several vehicles can be seen, with stopped cars taking up at least one lane of highway beyond the off-ramp. The OPP did not say when the photo was taken.

“Shoppers are advised to use the Winston Churchill Blvd exit as an alternative to ensure a safe and smooth shopping journey,” the OPP said in the post.

“As a reminder, the HTA (Highway Traffic Act) does not permit pedestrians to walk …