Nature of risk
The proposed tunnel would require significant financial, environmental, and other resources and yet is unlikely to meaningfully reduce traffic congestion. Rather, construction would likely cause prolonged disruptions and increased congestion, leading to higher vehicle idling times and elevated greenhouse gas emissions during and after the project. Other alternatives to address traffic congestion without the same level of environmental disturbance or carbon footprint should have been explored prior to this project.
Policy summary
What changed
A tunnel is proposed to be built from Mississauga in the west to Scarborough in the east spanning approximately 55 kilometers to alleviate congestion in the GTA's most crowded roads. Premier Ford has proposed the tunnel to address gridlock and lost productivity as a result of it and has even sought Prime Minister Mark Carney's support for the idea. Experts believe this project could cost nearly $100 billion to construct and take more than 2 decades to complete.
Primary source