It sounds like you’re referring to an article or news story about Ontario adding 134 km of lanes to Highway 401, but the expansion didn’t address a key bottleneck. Highway 401 is one of the busiest highways in North America, and congestion—especially in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)—is a major issue.
Possible Context:
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Highway 401 Expansion: Ontario has been widening sections of Highway 401 to reduce congestion, particularly in areas like Mississauga, Milton, and Cambridge. The 134 km of added lanes likely refer to ongoing or completed projects in these stretches.
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Unresolved Bottleneck: Despite these expansions, critical choke points (such as the Highway 401/404/Don Valley Parkway interchange in Toronto or the 401/427 junction) may remain congested due to high traffic volumes, lack of further lane additions, or complex urban infrastructure constraints.
Why the Bottleneck Persists:
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Urban Density: In Toronto, space constraints make further widening difficult.
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Interchange Design: Some merges and exits are inherently inefficient.
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Traffic Growth: Added lanes may induce more demand, offsetting congestion relief.
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Transit Alternatives: Lack of parallel high-capacity transit (e.g., more frequent GO trains) keeps pressure on the 401.
Criticism & Solutions:
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Critics argue that lane expansions alone won’t solve congestion long-term without better transit and demand management (e.g., tolls, HOV lanes).
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Alternatives like improved rail freight corridors (to reduce truck traffic) or smart traffic systems could help.
