Highway 7/12 Alternative Route Environmental Assessment

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April 2022 Update

In response to the preliminary technically preferred corridor presented in June 2021, including the delegations received by Council on October 25, 2021, Council resolved that the EA Study Team provide enhanced consultation to Agency, Indigenous Peoples, and Stakeholders and that the Thickson Road option (Alternative F) be reviewed based on the planned future 4/5 lane Regional design terminating at the intersection of Highway 7/12 south of Brawley Road.

Alternative F - Thickson Road

The project team has developed and is assessing variations on Alternative F to address the problem statement and project needs. Four alternatives are being analyzed and evaluated that consider different road cross sections (4 to 6 lanes) and improvement limits (improvement termination at Brawley Road or at Townline Road). Consideration is also being given to Thickson Road as an interim solution through discussion with agency stakeholders.

Emerging Considerations

Over the course of the last two months additional technical and administrative considerations have arisen that may have implications for the EA. The elements identified below may impact the preferred alternative and will delay the next phase of consultation.

  • Future land uses - changes in long term Region wide forecasts arising from Places to Grow Plan 2020, revised focus on northeast Pickering, and future potential in the Lake Ridge Road corridor;
  • Recent changes to the transportation network;
  • Consideration of a staged approach to removal of the MTO’s corridor control following environmental clearance for the future highway relocation will be subject of future negotiations with MTO; and
  • Time constraints have been introduced that will impact and extend the EA timelines:
    • Provincial Elections on or before June 2, 2022 and blackout period for Ministry consultation and Senior management meetings; and
    • Municipal Election October 24, 2022.

Next Steps

Based on the emerging considerations identified above, the project will not be able to proceed to the next Community Open House until the winter of 2023. The extended time period will be used to investigate the significance of the technical considerations and to consult further with agencies and public on project issues.

About the Highway 7/12 Alternative Route Environment Assessment Study

As the population grows in Whitby and the Greater Toronto Area, usage of Highway 7 and 12 is increasing. To support the traffic infrastructure needs of the community and accommodate this future growth, the Town has initiated a Provincial Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study to determine an alternative route(s) for provincial traffic that does not go through the Downtown Brooklin area.

The study will evaluate alternative options for the route and recommend a preferred plan to address both the local and provincial traffic needs of the study area.

The Study Design Report was finalized after the first Connect Whitby round of community engagement conducted in June 2020. The report describes the study background, approach, process, alternatives and public consultation program.


Information will be collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

April 2022 Update

In response to the preliminary technically preferred corridor presented in June 2021, including the delegations received by Council on October 25, 2021, Council resolved that the EA Study Team provide enhanced consultation to Agency, Indigenous Peoples, and Stakeholders and that the Thickson Road option (Alternative F) be reviewed based on the planned future 4/5 lane Regional design terminating at the intersection of Highway 7/12 south of Brawley Road.

Alternative F - Thickson Road

The project team has developed and is assessing variations on Alternative F to address the problem statement and project needs. Four alternatives are being analyzed and evaluated that consider different road cross sections (4 to 6 lanes) and improvement limits (improvement termination at Brawley Road or at Townline Road). Consideration is also being given to Thickson Road as an interim solution through discussion with agency stakeholders.

Emerging Considerations

Over the course of the last two months additional technical and administrative considerations have arisen that may have implications for the EA. The elements identified below may impact the preferred alternative and will delay the next phase of consultation.

  • Future land uses - changes in long term Region wide forecasts arising from Places to Grow Plan 2020, revised focus on northeast Pickering, and future potential in the Lake Ridge Road corridor;
  • Recent changes to the transportation network;
  • Consideration of a staged approach to removal of the MTO’s corridor control following environmental clearance for the future highway relocation will be subject of future negotiations with MTO; and
  • Time constraints have been introduced that will impact and extend the EA timelines:
    • Provincial Elections on or before June 2, 2022 and blackout period for Ministry consultation and Senior management meetings; and
    • Municipal Election October 24, 2022.

Next Steps

Based on the emerging considerations identified above, the project will not be able to proceed to the next Community Open House until the winter of 2023. The extended time period will be used to investigate the significance of the technical considerations and to consult further with agencies and public on project issues.

About the Highway 7/12 Alternative Route Environment Assessment Study

As the population grows in Whitby and the Greater Toronto Area, usage of Highway 7 and 12 is increasing. To support the traffic infrastructure needs of the community and accommodate this future growth, the Town has initiated a Provincial Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study to determine an alternative route(s) for provincial traffic that does not go through the Downtown Brooklin area.

The study will evaluate alternative options for the route and recommend a preferred plan to address both the local and provincial traffic needs of the study area.

The Study Design Report was finalized after the first Connect Whitby round of community engagement conducted in June 2020. The report describes the study background, approach, process, alternatives and public consultation program.


Information will be collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

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Page last updated: 01 Jun 2022, 04:05 PM