Ontario Awards Contract to Expand and Widen Highway 3

To improve road safety and keep people and goods moving in southwestern Ontario, the Ontario government has awarded a contract to design, build and finance the widening of Highway 3 between Essex and Leamington. The highway expansion project is a priority for the province along with plans to help the City of Windsor build a new interchange connecting Highway 401 to Lauzon Parkway.

“This new contract marks an important milestone as we get it done by expanding and widening Highway 3 and connecting Highway 401 to Lauzon Parkway for the growing Windsor region,” said Premier Doug Ford.

“Right across the province, our government is making historic investments in roads and highways to tackle gridlock, connect communities and build our economy.”

Trade between Michigan and Ontario was valued at more than $80.7 billion in 2022. The state and province are each other’s top export partner, and this corridor supports thousands of jobs on both sides of the border. As many as 17,300 vehicles travel this stretch of highway per day.

GIP Paving Inc. has been awarded the contract to widen Highway 3 from two to four lanes between Essex and Leamington.

Early project work and detail design is currently underway with construction expected to begin in 2024. Construction is also underway to widen Highway 3 from Maidstone Avenue to Arner Townline in Essex and is expected to be completed in Fall 2023.

“Highway 3 is a critical artery that connects Essex to communities across Ontario, as well as economic and trade opportunities at the Windsor-Detroit border,” said Anthony Leardi, MPP for Essex.

“As the population of southwestern Ontario continues to grow rapidly, widening Highway 3 will ensure that the region’s infrastructure can keep up with this growth, while keeping people and goods moving efficiently along the corridor.”

The Highway 3 expansion project includes:

• Widening Highway 3 from two to four lanes for 15.6 kilometres between Essex and Leamington;
• Widening five existing intersections and adding traffic signals to three intersections that currently operate without signals;
• Permanently closing four side road intersections to improve road safety along the corridor; and
• Resurfacing existing lanes.

“Our government is making it safer and easier to travel in southwestern Ontario,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation.

“By advancing critical transportation projects, like the widening of Highway 3, and supporting plans to connect Highway 401 to Lauzon Parkway in Windsor, we’re also supporting economic development and increasing trade opportunities across Ontario’s borders.”

The government is also supporting the City of Windsor by initiating a procurement for an Environmental Assessment and design of a new interchange connecting Highway 401 to Lauzon Parkway. The interchange will support increased opportunities for trade and better access to the Windsor-Detroit border.

“Our government continues to build key infrastructure projects faster by embarking on the most ambitious capital plan in Ontario’s history with planned investments of more than $184 billion over the next 10 years,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure.

“By widening Highway 3 and investing in other key transportation projects, the province is reducing gridlock, making our commutes safer and easier, and ensuring that our infrastructure is built to last for decades to come.”

Widening Highway 3 to four lanes from Essex to Leamington is one of 40 projects identified in the government’s  Connecting the Southwest: A Draft Transportation Plan for Southwestern Ontario, to better connect communities and create a safe and reliable transportation network.

“Highway 3 is vital to Leamington’s connectivity and economy. That is why we are so pleased to see the Ontario government taking action to improve safety and access by awarding a contract to widen this critical piece of infrastructure,” said Mayor Hilda Macdonald, Municipality of Leamington.

“This will ensure residents remain able to travel to where they need to go, while supporting good local jobs in our community.”

Learn more about the Highway 3 Widening Project here.

June 01, 2023
Office of the Premier
Ministry of Transportation