The Governments of Canada and Ontario have announced funding to widen Highway 401, to create better transportation corridors, and improve safety and traffic flow for all highway users, including local residents, tourists and commercial drivers.

The project will see widening of Highway 401 from six to ten lanes for a distance of nearly 5km, between Hespeler Road and Townline Road.

The works include construction of new high-occupancy vehicle lanes as well as replacing two bridges at Hespeler Road and Franklin Boulevard over Highway 401.

"By supporting improvements to critical transportation routes, we will help local businesses move their goods to market and help Canadians safely get to and from work, school and other activities on time."

Canadian Member of Parliament for Kitchener South-Hespeler Marwan Tabbara said: "The Government of Canada is working in close partnership with Ontario to ensure we make smart infrastructure investments that help grow the middle class, promote sustainable development and increase public safety.

“By supporting improvements to critical transportation routes, we will help local businesses move their goods to market and help Canadians safely get to and from work, school and other activities on time.

“It is thanks to initiatives and projects like the widening of Highway 401 that Canadian communities will remain among the best places in the world to live, work and raise a family."

The Canadian government has committed to contribute nearly C$96m ($73.2m) for this project through the New Building Canada Fund and the Government of Ontario is responsible for all remaining costs of the project.

Upon completion, the project is expected to improve safety, traffic flow and the high occupancy vehicle lanes will promote environmentally-friendly transportation such as carpooling and the use of public transit.

This investment is part of federal government’s goal to create jobs as well as growth of the middle class section by supporting food processors to develop products that reflect changing market tastes and new opportunities.

The Canada-British Columbia Agri-Innovation programme is managed by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia.