Doug Ford says he wants to build a tunnel under Hwy. 401

Premier Doug Ford says he wants to build a tunnel under Highway 401 that would stretch from Brampton to Scarborough.

Premier Doug Ford says he wants to build a tunnel under Highway 401 that would stretch roughly from Brampton to Scarborough.

Citing increasing gridlock and little room for highway expansion at a news conference Wednesday morning, Ford says his government will begin studying the technical feasibility of building a tunnel stretching across the GTA under the country's busiest highway.

"This tunnel and expressway will cut gridlock support economic growth and help get people moving faster," Ford said.

He said the tunnel would serve as "a new expressway for both cars and transit" from Brampton to Mississauga in the West to Markham and Scarborough in the east, connecting with major roads and highways along the way.

Ford did not provide an estimate for how much a tunnel might cost.

"Through this feasibility work, we'll figure out the best way to get this project done, including initial soil testing along the route, reviewing best practices from other jurisdictions and getting a clear understanding of how this tunnel can fight gridlock and support the economy," Ford said.

The premier said he realizes that the idea is "ambitious," but took aim at possible critics as naysayers.