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Ontario’s new Major Highway Projects Division is off to a strong start according to a Ministry of Transportation manager, with momentum said to be growing but the MTO acknowledging improvements must be made to processes.

The new division was launched in July of last year to provide delivery of priority government infrastructure projects through more contract innovation, improved planning and design, and upgrades to procurement, delivery and partner collaboration.

The projects included are Highway 413, the Bradford Bypass, QEW Garden City Skyway, the Highway 3 expansion, Ring of Fire projects and the Highway 401 Tunnel.

MTO major projects assistant deputy minister Malvika Rudra outlined progress on the six projects and offered comments on where there is room for improvement during a recent presentation to stakeholders at the Ontario Road Builders’ Association conference held in Toronto.

The panel presentation featured eight MTO managers who offered updates on the ministry’s 2025-26 capital program.

There will be over 400 major construction projects anticipated to be tendered over the next four years, with the fiscal year launched with more than 120 carry-over projects and a total construction value of approximately $4.4 billion.

“We’ve seen some really strong momentum on our major projects portfolio,” Rudra said, calling the division a “pipeline within a pipeline.”

“We recognize that for some of these major projects, we do need to increase some of our transparency and avoid that procurement bunching that we’re maybe seeing in some cases. We recognize we need to give you time to form alliances and partnerships to help us meet our expedited delivery objectives.”

Highlights of the major projects are as follows:

• Highway 413. Early works projects have started. Embankment at the 401/407 interchange is complete, advanced paving on Highway 10 is under construction, new Bovaird Drive and Highway 10 underpasses are in detailed design. In December 2025, the RFP was posted for the design of the extension of Highway 410 that will connect to the future Highway 413.

Rudra said, “We’re really proud of the work that we did this past year on the design and EA and we were able to get shovels in the ground on a couple of early works projects. So tremendous progress there.”

• Bradford Bypass. Contracts for the detail design of the central and east sections and project management consultant were awarded in November 2025. ��������ion manager for central section awarded in January 2026.

“Work is progressing on all sections of the corridor,” said Rudra. “We do have shovels going in the ground this spring, working with Miller Paving and also our design partners Aecom.”

• Ring of Fire roads projects. Early works and design are underway, with major construction contracts expected to be tendered in 2026.
• Garden City Skyway Bridge Twinning. In the development phase. Early and enabling works to begin this February.
• Highway 3 Expansion. ��������ion of new lanes and other activities in progress.
• Highway 401 Tunnel. Feasibility study awarded October 2025.

The ministry issued over 80 tenders for major MTO-delivered capital projects in 2025, with a total estimated construction value of approximately $1.4 billion.

Winter update

The MTO also recently released its winter update of the Ontario Highways Program.

There are 627 projects in the update, including 579 rehabilitation projects and 48 expansion projects. The number of projects completed in 2025 was 94, there are 100 projects underway, and there are projected to be 138 project starts in 2026.

Earlier in the session, MTO assistant deputy minister Jasan Boparai addressed maintenance procurement in the province. The provincial highway network has over 40,000 lane kilometres of pavement and 3,000 provincially administered bridges. This year the province will spend over $800 million on maintenance programs.

“That’s a significant number,” he said. “I encourage capital contractors to take that leap into the highway maintenance side.”

Highway worker safety

Boparai noted the MTO is looking to amend the Highway Traffic Act to offer more protection for stopped work-related vehicles – that’s differentiated from designated construction zones, where the MTO already has a significant role in determining, for example, vehicle speed.

The proposed legislation would improve protection for roadside workers by requiring drivers to slow down and move over when approaching stopped work-related vehicles with flashing lights.

The MTO has been authorized to define what vehicles fall under the definition of work-related vehicle.

“We are seeking feedback from the industry and from everybody through public engagement,” said Boparai.