The Ontario government has taken another step toward construction of the controversial Bradford Bypass highway project.

On October 28, it announced that it had awarded the contract to oversee the design, quality control, safety and delivery of the west section of the project to Miller/Brennan.

The province says the achievement marks a significant milestone in its plan to relieve gridlock, save commuters time and keep goods moving across the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Earlier this month, the province introduced legislation that would designate the Bradford Bypass a priority highway project along with Highway 413 and the QEW Garden City Skyway bridge twinning project. The Building Highways Faster Act aims to speed up the building and approvals process on these priority projects.

“Our government is making real progress on our plan to build critical highways, including the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413, that will get Ontario drivers out of gridlock,” said Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria.

Early project work for the Bradford Bypass is already underway, with crews recently completing a new bridge at Simcoe County Road 4 that will help keep traffic moving in West Gwillimbury. Construction is also underway on a Highway 400 southbound lane that will connect to the future expressway.

Once complete, the Bradford Bypass will be a vital link for communities in York Region and Simcoe County, providing better connections to jobs and housing. During construction, the project will support over 2,000 well-paying jobs annually and contribute up to $286 million to Ontario’s gross domestic product.