Ontario Construction News staff writer
Dufferin Construction has kicked off work on the Highway 3 expansion in St. Thomas. This important project aims to enhance access to the city’s growing industrial area and Volkswagen’s electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility.
The construction will stretch nearly seven kilometres of Highway 3 between Centennial Avenue and Ron Mc Neil Line, connecting with the future Talbotville Bypass.
When finished, the Highway 3 expansion along with the Talbotville Bypass will provide a direct route between Highway 401 and St. Thomas, aiding residential, commercial, and industrial growth throughout Elgin County.
Teams have started early construction tasks such as relocating utilities and grading, marking an initial phase toward the larger Highway 3 expansion.
“The expansion of Highway 3 will connect people to good-paying jobs, support housing growth and help businesses access the workforce they need to drive economic growth,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario’s minister of transportation.
This highway project is also essential for developing Volkswagen Group’s new electric-vehicle battery manufacturing plant in St. Thomas, which is being built by its battery division, Power Co.
Volkswagen announced a $7-billion investment in this facility back in April 2023. Construction is underway on what is set to be Canada’s largest EV battery manufacturing plant.
The upgrades are expected to facilitate better access to the St. Thomas Industrial Park, improve transportation links for workers, and help position the area to attract further commercial and industrial investments.
“As our government continues to attract historic job-creating investments from global companies, we are investing in critical infrastructure to support this growth,” said Vic Fedeli, minister of economic development, job creation and trade.
“By expanding Highway 3, we will strengthen access to the St. Thomas Industrial Park, reduce commute times for workers and position the region to attract new businesses.”
This project is part of a larger effort tied to rapid industrial growth in the area. Improved connections between Highway 401, St. Thomas and nearby communities are anticipated to foster new housing developments as well as employment opportunities while major investments proceed.
“The City of St. Thomas welcomes the Province’s continued progress on Highway 3 twinning,” said Mayor Joe Preston. “Advancing enabling works such as utility relocations and grading is an important milestone toward full construction beginning in 2027.”
These improvements are necessary for enhancing safety while strengthening connections for residents and businesses as they continue growing in St. Thomas and Southwestern Ontario.
The Highway 3 expansion is expected to play a vital role in managing increased traffic levels while meeting transportation needs generated by local industrial growth including that from the Volkswagen battery plant.
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