Notice of Public Information Centre: Highway 401 / Shanly Road Bridge Replacement and Interchange Improvements

The study

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) retained HDR Inc. (HDR) to undertake a Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) Study focusing on the replacement of the Shanly Road Underpass, interchange improvements and establishing the footprint of Highway 401 for future six lanes, from 1 km east of Highway 16 to 2.5 km east of Shanly Road for approximately 10.1 km. The purpose of the study is to identify a Recommended Plan that addresses current and future needs for the provincial highway network. The study area falls within the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal, United Counties of Leeds and Greenville as shown in the key plan.

The process

The study is following the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways, 2024 (Class EA) process for a Group ‘B’ project.

Engagement with external agencies, Indigenous communities, the public and interest groups will take place throughout the study, including two Public Information Centres (PICs). Upon completion of the study, the preferred plan will be documented in a Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) and made available for public review. The TESR will also describe how the requirements of the Class EA were met; how the project achieves the overall transportation benefit while minimizing environmental impacts; engagement with individuals, external agencies, and Indigenous communities; and commitments for further engagement and environmental protection. A Notice of Completion will be issued, at which point there will be a 30-day comment period allowing for an opportunity to provide comments on the TESR.

Once a Technically Preferred Alternative has been identified, MTO may designate lands as highway and acquire property prior to EA process completion. For more information about highway corridor management, please visit the Province of Ontario's Highway Corridor Management webpage.

Public information centre (PIC) No. 1

The first Public Information Centre (PIC) has been arranged to provide an opportunity to review the study process, the study need and justification, screening of an initial long list of alternatives, the short list of alternatives, the proposed evaluation criteria to assess the short list of alternatives, and the next steps in the study. PIC No. 1 will be an informal drop-in centre with MTO and consultant team representatives available to answer questions. You are encouraged to attend the first PIC and to provide your views and comments so that they can be considered as the study progresses. The first PIC will be held as follows:

Wednesday, April 8, 2026
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 105
105 Legion Way, Cardinal, Ontario

A second PIC will be held later in the study to present the evaluation of the improvement alternatives, the selection of the preferred plan, and the potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures.

Comments

Please visit us at www.Highway401-Cardinal.ca for further project information. If you wish to obtain additional information, provide comments, or would like to be added to the study’s mailing list, you can do so through the website or by contacting the project team members listed below.

If you have any accessibility requirements in order to participate in this project, please contact one of the Team members listed above. Comments and information will be collected to assist MTO in meeting the requirements of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O., 1990, c.F.31. All comments will be maintained on file for use during the study and, with the exception of personal information, may be included in study documentation and become part of the public record.