The Ontario government has kicked off the latest phase of its plan to widen Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph.

Starting February 28, contractors will be invited to submit proposals for the replacement of the Frederick Street bridge. To accommodate the future widening of Highway 7, the bridge will be lengthened to ensure traffic can flow in both directions with shoulders and multi-use paths accessible for both pedestrians and cyclists.

The replacement of the bridge is part of the third phase of building the new Highway 7.

“Today’s announcement is an important next step in the provincial government’s commitment to move the Highway 7 project forward,” said Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor of Kitchener. “The construction of the Frederick Street Bridge will not only help connect residents and businesses between Kitchener, Guelph and surrounding areas but will also be key to moving goods throughout southern Ontario, across Canada and elsewhere in North America.”

Once complete, the new Highway 7 will include seven interchanges between Kitchener and Guelph, including a multi-level connection to Highway 85, a new crossing over the Grand River and improvements to local roads to help keep communities connected.

The new four-lane, 18-kilometre highway will help fight gridlock on the 401, save commuters time, and keep goods moving across the fast-growing regions of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Guelph.

“I am pleased that the government is opening the next phase of Highway 7 improvements with the call out to contractors for proposals to replace the Frederick Street Bridge at the end of this month,” said Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris. “We have seen and expect to see the continued growth of population and jobs in Waterloo Region, and planning ahead for that will benefit not just the local community but everyone commuting and transiting throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe.”

The new Highway 7 is among the more than 100 actions identified in the government’s Connecting the GGH: A Transportation Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Connecting the Southwest: A Draft Transportation Plan for Southwestern Ontario.

Highway 7 is among the busiest two-lane highways in Ontario, with 26,000 vehicles travelling on it daily.