Ontario Premier Doug Ford says that his government is looking to reduce traffic on highway 401 in Durham region as highways 407 are flocks of passengers to use 407 East, 412 and 418.
During a news conference in Pickering on Thursday about skill development and trades, Ford stated that he is interacting with Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvi and other Durham area MPP about traffic issues.
“So people are coming home from cottage, it is getting very jammed there, but if it gets jammed there then I always say that it will have to take the crowd from another part, I think 401,” he said.
“I think for a long time, we may have to see-we will work with the Transport Minister and obviously the person who controls the money, Minister Bethlenfalvi to see if we may probably add lanes on both sides.
“We are looking at the plan to lighten the traffic.”
It is not clear how much study has gone in the proposal or if any amount is kept separate.
Citynews contacted the representatives of Bethlenfalvi and Ontario Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, but our questions were not received until the time of publication. If the comments are received, the story will be updated.
Traffic backup has been observed in the area, narrow near highway 412 on-ramps as highway 401 traffic lane.
The toll was removed from highways 412 and 418 By Ford Government in 2018. Earlier in 2025, Ford government also Highway 407 Toll removed from the east provincially owned section,
Ontario Liberal MPP Robs represents the ride of Sergenak Ajax and said that there are traffic and transport top issues that hear about his office. He said that the toll-free is now getting toll-free with highway 407 East, he has heard that highway 401 has seen “a little less” traffic in that part of the Durham region.
“But I know around Lake Ridge Road and [Highway] 412 is always a pain point and a pressure point, so I am definitely open to see what they want to propose and how we work to the transport system, ”Sergen told Citynuse on Thursday afternoon.
“The road network for all of us got to work well.”
Sergen said he wanted to see a formal transport study conducted to identify the best solution, which he said that may involve adding more lanes.
“We hear things,” let’s build A tunnel under 401“Random things have started throwing out and it has started coming into the ridiculous area,” he said.
“Instead of focusing on fantasy projects like a tunnel under 401, you have got to improve the current transport system and expand public transit asap so that we can really encourage people when it makes sense to get out of their cars.”
Meanwhile, Sergen said that the Ford government needs to work on receiving the express. Go transit lekchaor east Trains back in Durham region.
He said, “They will not provide a time line. It should have been in summer in summer in summer, so a year ago, express service was not going to return, so I know those who are driving instead of taking Go train,” he said that Go Transit trains (which are operated early) have not been released.
“The most effective way to help in traffic is to help people with their cars to make them reliable, inexpensive and constantly out of their cars.”
Citynues contacted metrolinux on Thursday afternoon to ask for an update on the express train service. If any response is obtained, the story will be updated.