The Highway 407 East project is underway to construct a new highway that will run eastward from the end point of Highway 407 ETR at Brock Road in Pickering to Highway 35/115 in Clarington. The project also includes two north-south connections to Highway 401.
The new Highway 407 East will open in stages as follows:
- 2015: Brock Road to Harmony Road plus the West Durham Link (a north-south freeway linking Highway 407 East to Highway 401 in Whitby)
- 2017: Harmony Road to Taunton Road
- 2020: Taunton Road to Highway 35/115 plus the East Durham Link (a second north-south freeway linking Highway 407 East to Highway 401 in Clarington)
Once complete, Highway 407 East will provide commuters with more efficient access to the Greater Toronto Area, relieve congested areas on Highway 401, improve the movement of goods and services across Ontario and provide emergency detour routes for Durham Region.
Although seamlessly connected to the existing 407 ETR, Highway 407 East is a separate entity owned and operated by the Province of Ontario.
Highway 407 East and the two north-south freeways connecting it to Highway 401 will operate as toll roads.
The Province of Ontario will set toll rates prior to the opening of the first section of Highway 407 East in late 2015. Toll rates will be automatically adjusted every year on June 1st. The adjusted rate will be based on the percentage change in the Ontario Consumer Price Index between the previous two calendar years.
Highway 407 East customers will receive a single invoice for travel on both the 407 ETR and Highway 407 East, with trips on each highway itemized separately. The same transponder will be used for travel on Highway 407 East and 407 ETR. Those with existing 407 ETR transponders will be able to use them on both highways once Highway 407 East opens.
In spring of 2013, construction of the first section of Highway 407 East (
from Brock Road to Harmony Road plus the West Durham Link north-south freeway to Highway 401) will begin. It is scheduled for completion in 2015.
The Province of Ontario has selected a consortium called the 407 East Development Group (407EDG) to design, build, finance and maintain the first section of Highway 407 East for a 30 year period.
Currently, the Province of Ontario is working on pre-construction activities for the second section of Highway 407 East, which runs from Harmony Road to Highway 35/115 and includes the East Durham Link north-south freeway to Highway 401.
These activities include acquiring the necessary property along the corridor, field work such as archaeological investigations, obtaining species-at-risk permits, and relocating utility infrastructure such as hydro towers. Consultation with stakeholders is ongoing and the ministry continues to work with Durham Region and local municipalities to assess the impacts of the highway on local roads.
Construction on the second section of the highway will begin in 2015, and open in two phases:
- Harmony Road to Taunton Road in late 2017
- Taunton Road to Highway 35/115 plus the East Durham Link in late 2020