Environmental Studies

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East Environmental and Detail Design Study

Central Environmental and Detail Design Study

West Environmental and Detail Design Study

Environmental field studies and Detail Design are currently ongoing for the Bradford Bypass West Project.

A Non-Significant Addendum Report was prepared to document project changes for the Bradford Bypass West Project and posted on the Project Website on April 10, 2026.

Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report, Bradford Bypass West Detail Design Project, April 2026

Environmental Impact Assessment Report

In accordance with Ontario Regulation 697/21, an Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Project was prepared to document:

a description of environmental conditions within the Bradford Bypass Corridor;
a description of all studies undertaken;
an assessment and evaluation of preliminary design alternatives;
a description of any measures proposed to mitigate any negative impacts that the preliminary design alternatives may have on the environment and the criteria for assessment and evaluation of those impacts;
a description of the methods to monitor the effectiveness of the mitigation measures proposed;
a description of any municipal, provincial, federal, or other approvals or permits that may be required;
the consultation record with Indigenous communities, regulatory agencies and interested stakeholders etc, and,

The Environmental Impact Assessment Report documented the Preliminary Design phase for the Project which was completed in accordance with Ontario Regulation 697/21 (the Regulation). Adherence to the Regulation ensured the Project was completed responsibly and in consideration of all the previous commitments made in relation to the Project, including those made during the 2002 Study (discussed below) and as part of the conditions of approval issued in 2002.

The Preliminary Design phase of the Bradford Bypass is complete and the Environmental Impact Assessment Report as well as the discipline specific reports prepared during this phase are available below.

In accordance with Section 27 of Ontario Regulation 697/21, the Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report was posted to the Project Website on November 16, 2023:

Environmental Impact Assessment Report Documents

In accordance with Section 19 of Ontario Regulation 697/21, the Final Environmental Conditions Report was posted to the Project Website on October 27, 2022:

Environmental Conditions Report Documents

County Road 4 Early Works (2022)

Following the Early Works Assessment Process outlined in Ontario Regulation 697/21, an assessment of the proposed bridge at County Road 4 was completed and the work to construct this bridge has proceeded in advance of the rest of the Bradford Bypass Project.

In accordance with Section 12 (1) (c) of Ontario Regulation 697/21, the County Road 4 Final Early Works Report was posted to the Project Website on March 21, 2022 and a Design Build contract for the County Road 4 Early Works was awarded to Brennan Paving & Construction Ltd and Morrison Hershfield (Brennan-MH) in April 2022.

An addendum to the County Road 4 Final Early Work Report was posted to the Project Website on September 6, 2022.

County Road 4 Final Early Works Report Addendum

The County Road 4 Early Works construction was completed in December 2024.

Preparatory Work for Design Updates (2019)

In August 2019, design activities for the Bradford Bypass were restarted and included a Design Update and updates to Environmental Conditions.

The Design Update included review and revision to the route identified in the 1997 Study to modify the design and make it consistent with current standards for safety and engineering.

The update to Environmental Conditions included review of background data and completion of a gap analysis to identify areas where further information was needed during the planned Preliminary Design phase. Discipline specific reviews of Environmental Conditions in 2019 are available below.

2002 Approved Environmental Assessment

This Route Planning and Environmental Assessment Study was approved in 2002 and documented the environmental assessment process for the route selection, right-of-way designation and future commitments for the Highway 400-Highway 404 Link.

A Notice of Approval to proceed with the undertaking was issued by the Minister of Environment and Energy on August 28, 2002 and included 15 conditions on the Project.

Other Related Projects

MTO completed a Preliminary Design Study outlined in the Highway 400 Planning and Preliminary Design Study from the South Canal Bridge to 1.0 km South of Highway 89 Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) in November 2003.

Highway 400 Planning and Preliminary Design Study from the South Canal Bridge to 1.0 km South of Highway 89 Transportation Environmental Study Report2002 Route Planning and Environmental Study Report