Massive $190M road upgrade rush underway in Eastern Ontario before tariffs hit

Work includes repairs to Sir John A. Macdonald bridge in Kingston for $6 million.

Eastern Ontario is seeing a construction boom, with more than $190 million in highway projects currently underway. The work is part of a push by the Ontario government to complete key infrastructure before possible U.S. tariffs raise material costs.

Major projects are happening all along Highway 401, from the Quebec border to Belleville. Municipal and provincial leaders say they're moving fast to avoid delays and extra costs from steel and aluminum tariffs linked to ongoing U.S. trade disputes.

In Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, work includes resurfacing from Moulinette Road to east of Cornwall, led by GIP Paving Inc. at $57.4 million. GIP is also reconstructing Highway 138 for $67.8 million. A $6.5 million culvert replacement at Aultsville Creek is being handled by Fidelity Engineering.

Further west, drivers in Brockville and Lanark may face slowdowns as R.W. Tomlinson improves intersections on Highway 416 and resurfaces the 401 near Brockville for $11.8 million. 

In Kingston, Clearwater Structures is repairing a bridge at the Sir John A. Macdonald ramp for $6 million, while erosion control along County Road 33 costs another $12.5 million.

More resurfacing west of Napanee to Belleville totals nearly $35 million in projects by GIP Paving and R.W. Tomlinson.

Officials say some tenders now include clauses to protect builders from tariff-related price spikes. Ontario’s 2025 budget has also earmarked $11 billion to help projects and businesses hit by tariffs.

Story by Emily Chatwood