Niagara to GTA Corridor

(updated September 6, 2006)

The proposed route for the $1.5 billion, 130-kilometre highway -- which was originally brought forward by the previous Conservative government -- would stretch from near the U.S. border in Niagara region, across the Niagara Peninsula above the Escarpment, around the south end of Hamilton, and eventually meet up with either Highway 407 at Burlington or Highway 401 just east of Highway 6.

View Map Not only would the highway wipe out hundreds of acres of forests and wetlands in its path, and cut through the face of the Escarpment, it would also bring urban sprawl pressures to the Niagara Peninsula and Niagara Escarpment at a scale never experienced before.

Thanks to the efforts of CONE and others, the attempt by the previous government to fast-track the highway through a scoped environmental assessment did not succeed.

The Liberal government has promised a full and comprehensive environmental assessment for the project, that includes an examination of the need for the project and all alternatives -- including non-highway alternatives -- to meeting transportation needs in the region.

Terms of Reference for the environmental assessment were approved by the Ministry of the Environment on June 9, 2006. They are available at www.niagara-gta.com/ea_tord.asp. CONE has applied to sit on the EA's Citizens Advisory Committee.