Ontarians Doubtful About Hwy. 401 Tunnel: Survey
A proposal championed by Premier Doug Ford to build a traffic and transit tunnel under Hwy. 401 to relieve congestion is being met with skepticism by Ontario voters, a new poll suggests. The survey, released by Liaison Strategies, reveals that 45% of Ontarians oppose the project, while only 28% support it. About 17% of respondents were neutral, and 10% were undecided.
Respondents expressed concerns about transparency, safety, and the opportunity cost of investing billions in the tunnel instead of areas like healthcare, education, and housing. Despite this, 74% of respondents believe the tunnel would reduce traffic congestion in the GTA if built. Ford's proposal includes a three-level tunnel, with one level for each direction of traffic and a third for transit, stretching approximately 50 kilometers from Mississauga to Scarborough.
The premier argues that the tunnel is necessary to alleviate congestion, especially as the 400-series highways become busier. However, the province has provided limited data to support the plan's feasibility or cost-effectiveness, despite previous concerns about safety and construction challenges raised in 2021. The Ford government has awarded a $9.1 million contract to WSP Canada Inc. to conduct a feasibility study, expected to be completed in 2027.
Ford has described the tunnel as a "nation-building project" and sought federal commitments. However, the tunnel was notably absent from the federal government's list of major infrastructure projects. Opposition Leader Marit Stiles has criticized the tunnel as an "ego project" for the premier.
The survey also reveals that only 6% of respondents consider the Hwy. 401 tunnel the top transit priority for the GTA. Instead, 39% prefer improving local roads, intersections, and existing highways, while 33% prioritize enhancing public transit. Despite the doubts surrounding Ford's tunnel plan, the survey indicates that his party still enjoys strong support among voters.
Nine months after the PC Party's third term victory, 44% of surveyed Ontarians stated they would vote for the PCs if an election were held today. This compares to 35% for the Ontario Liberal Party and 16% for the NDP. The poll, conducted from December 5-7 using Interactive Voice Response technology, surveyed 1,000 Ontarians, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.09 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
