The Ford Government's 401 Tunnel Is A Joke. But The Premier Isn't Laughing

I can't believe we're even talking about this thing. What's the deal with this boondoggle waiting to happen?

“One way? That’ll be $768, please.” Photo by Chris Buckwald on Unsplash

At this point, what do you even say about a guy like Doug Ford? His latest commitment to doubling down on building a tunnel under the 401 Highway, the busiest in North America, ought to disqualify him from the Ontario premiership. It’s a risky boondoggle waiting to happen. His own government has all but said as much. Global News reported on an internal report that cited a “potential for roadway collapse.” Experts say the project could cost $100 billion. I’ll take the over on that. Studies alone of the proposed tunnel will take years. The project itself, if it ever sees the, err, light of day, will push beyond a decade, potentially into decades, and that’s if its builders can even scrounge up the labour to construct it and if anyone can manage to secure funding.

On Wednesday, Ford shared news that the tunnel would run just under 20 metres in diameter, featuring two lanes — one eastbound and one westbound — with a sub-tunnel lane for transit. One wonders what happens if there’s an accident. Presumably there’s a plan for that, but presumably one is meeting the government more than halfway when assuming as much. I don’t know. I just can’t get AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” out of my head. I’m sorry we even have to talk about this thing, but we do. It’s a matter of public interest, since this government is actually trying to get the ball rolling on it.

The best explanation I can manage for the tunnel idea is that Doug Ford thinks like a toddler. That’s got to be part of it. Maybe he’s obsessed with big machines. He’s certainly captured by the allure of mega-projects underwritten by massive promises whose delivery is safely tucked away in the future, well down the road…or the tunnel. Some observers will claim the Ford government is