The Ontario government has officially launched major construction on the long-awaited Bradford Bypass, marking what provincial leaders are calling a significant step toward reducing congestion and improving travel times across York Region and Simcoe County.
Once complete, the new four-lane highway is expected to cut travel times by up to 35 minutes, offering relief to commuters who regularly navigate some of the busiest routes in North America. The project will also support approximately 2,200 jobs annually and contribute up to $286 million to Ontario’s economy.
“With major construction underway on the Bradford Bypass, we’ve reached a historic milestone in our plan to give relief to commuters from some of the most congested highways in North America,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We will continue to invest in our $236 billion plan to build, including the Bradford Bypass, Highway 413 and the 401 tunnel, saving drivers and businesses across Ontario time and money.”
The Bradford Bypass is a key component of the province’s broader infrastructure strategy, aimed at addressing gridlock that officials say costs Ontario up to $56 billion annually.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government continues to fight gridlock that costs Ontario up to $56 billion a year,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “The Bradford Bypass will provide much-needed relief to drivers in York Region and Simcoe County, support thousands of good-paying jobs and keep people and goods moving in one of Ontario’s fastest-growing regions.”
Work is currently underway on the west section of the bypass, with crews breaking ground at Sideroad 10. This phase includes building a divided highway stretching from west of Artesian Industrial Parkway to Highway 400.
Key elements of this phase include:
- New interchanges at Sideroad 10 and County Road 4
- Replacement of the bridge at Highway 400 and Line 9
- Construction of a new freeway-to-freeway interchange connecting the bypass to Highway 400
The full project spans 16.3 kilometres, eventually linking Highway 400 in the west to Highway 404 in the east.
Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor James Leduc welcomed the start of construction, highlighting its importance to the growing community. "Breaking ground on the west section of the Bradford Bypass is a significant milestone for our community and our region. As Bradford West Gwillimbury continues to grow, investments like these are essential to reducing congestion, improving travel times and supporting economic opportunity. We thank the province for their continued partnership and commitment to building stronger connections between communities."
The province says the Bradford Bypass - officially designated as Highway 425 - will play a vital role in supporting significant population growth in the surrounding regions.
York Region’s population is projected to reach 1.8 million by 2041, while Simcoe County is expected to grow to 416,000 residents by 2031. Officials say the new highway will help meet increasing travel demand as more people move into the area.
Crews have already completed tree clearing along the west section and constructed a temporary detour at Sideroad 10 to allow bridge and interchange work to proceed.
The Bradford Bypass is one piece of Ontario’s larger commitment to transportation infrastructure, with more than $31 billion being invested to build, repair and expand highways, roads and bridges across the province.
Design work is already underway on the central and eastern sections of the bypass, with a program management consultant overseeing the full project.
Once finished, the Bradford Bypass is expected to significantly improve regional connectivity, reduce commute times and support economic growth—offering both immediate construction benefits and long-term transportation solutions.
For residents and commuters in York Region and Simcoe County, the project represents a long-anticipated step toward faster, more reliable travel.
