Hamilton mayor says Highway 6 expansion expected to finish by 2024

The mayor of Hamilton says construction for the widening of Highway 6 South is expected to be completed by spring 2024.

The Ontario government announced last week that AECOM will be the engineering consultant to undertake a Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Update Study for the expansion of the highway.

The roadway will increase from two lanes to four over a nine kilometre segment between Highway 403 and Upper James St.

“They can start soon after the election if the [Progressive Conservative] government is re-elected,” Mayor Fred Eisenberger said in an interview on Morning Live Monday.

Highway 6 from Highway 403 to Upper James St. is the primary connection from John Munro Hamilton International Airport to the Greater Golden Horseshoe via Highway 403.

Eisenberger said it is the third leading airport for cargo traffic in Canada, making access to it critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They moved a lot of product through the airport both when the vaccines were starting off early on and protective equipment,” he said.

“We have been vital to helping with the pandemic through the cargo access, and certainly having good road access to that airport is going to be critical in the future.”

The Preliminary Design and EA Update Study will include outreach to Indigenous communities, municipalities and stakeholders, including the airport and business owners.

The provincial government said construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2022.