16th Avenue Improvements

Leslie Street to Kennedy Road

In the cities of Richmond Hill and Markham 

Construction start: Late 2025
Anticipated completion: 2030

York Region is widening and improving 16th Avenue from Leslie Street to Kennedy Road to accommodate growth and provide more travel options.

map of construction area for 16th Ave Improvement Project

Improvements include:

  • Widening the road to six lanes to include transit/High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes 
  • Rehabilitating bridges and culverts 
  • Installing multi-use paths 
  • Upgrading intersections
  • Streetscaping and tree planting
16th Avenue from Leslie Street to Kennedy Road

Photo: 16th Avenue and Leslie Street intersection looking north
 

Timeline:

Environmental Assessment Study happened from 2016 to 2020. Detailed road design began in 2021 and will carry through until 2031. Late 2025 to 2028 there will be construction activity 16th Ave from Leslie St to Warden Ave. From 2028 to 2030 there will be construction activity from Warden Ave to Kennedy Road.
  • 2016 to 2020: Environmental Assessment Study
  • 2021 to 2030: Detailed road design
  • Late 2025 to 2028: Construction activity on 16th Avenue from Leslie Street to Warden Avenue
  • 2028 to 2030: Construction activity on 16th Avenue from Warden Avenue to Kennedy Road

Other projects in the area

Some improvements to 16th Avenue are underway. While the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) is widening Highway 404 to accommodate HOV lanes, York Region partnered with them to build a new bridge at 16th Avenue and Highway 404, and widen 16th Avenue within the highway interchange. This work is expected to be complete this year. Information on MTO projects is available online at Ontario.ca

For a list of Regional road improvements planned and underway in your community, see york.ca/RoadConstruction

Project background 

York Region completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) Study to identify possible improvements to 16th Avenue to address future transportation needs for pedestrians, cyclists, public transit users and motorists. The study was a formal process that involved community consultation, environmental studies, engineering investigations and design solutions.

Based on the results of the EA study, York Region is prioritizing improvements to 16th Avenue and working on a design to widen and improve the road.

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