One of the most significant road infrastructure projects in the Markham and Richmond Hill area is approaching completion. The Highway 404 Road Crossing Improvement Project, which will create a new four-lane road over Highway 404 and the Rouge River between 16th Avenue and Major Mackenzie Drive, is on track for an anticipated opening by late 2026.
The project, a joint effort between York Region, the City of Markham, the City of Richmond Hill, and the Ministry of Transportation Ontario, has been under construction since the summer of 2023. It will provide something that residents on both sides of Highway 404 have long needed: an additional east-west route across one of the region's most significant physical barriers.
What the Project Delivers
The core of the project is straightforward but impactful: it connects Orlando Avenue in Richmond Hill with Markland Street in Markham by building a new road and bridge that spans Highway 404 and the Rouge River. The result is a new four-lane road that provides an additional crossing point between the two cities in an area where Highway 404 currently divides communities that are geographically close but functionally disconnected.
The improvements include:
- A new bridge over Highway 404, connecting the east and west sides of the highway for the first time at this location
- A new bridge over the Rouge River
- Widening, extending, and connecting Orlando Avenue (Richmond Hill side) and Markland Street (Markham side)
- Extension of Cachet Woods Court to connect to the new crossing road
- Sidewalks and multi-use pathways extending to Leslie Street on the Richmond Hill side and along Markland Street to Woodbine Avenue on the Markham side
- Landscaping and environmental restoration, including planting thousands of native trees and plants along the corridor
- River bank stabilization and naturalization along the Rouge River
- Storm water quality improvements
Construction Progress
According to York Region's latest project update, construction has reached several significant milestones. The concrete bridge deck over Highway 404 has been poured, and crews are now working on the parapet walls and sidewalks that form the edges of the bridge. On the Rouge River crossing, the abutments that support the bridge structure are in place, and the riverbanks have been stabilized and are ready for planting.
On the road level, work to widen and reconstruct Markland Street and Orlando Avenue is underway, with sewer and watermain work already completed. Construction has started on the sidewalks and multi-use paths that will extend connectivity well beyond the immediate crossing area.
The project has been progressing through a series of phases, with different sections of the road and bridge work advancing simultaneously. Residents near the construction zone have experienced the typical disruptions that come with a project of this scale, including construction noise, temporary lane restrictions, and altered traffic patterns on surrounding streets.
Why It Matters
Highway 404 is one of the defining geographic features of eastern York Region. It runs north-south through the heart of the area, and while it provides critical highway connectivity, it also acts as a barrier between communities on either side. Between 16th Avenue and Major Mackenzie Drive, there is currently no direct road crossing of the highway, meaning that residents, businesses, and emergency services on one side must travel north to Major Mackenzie or south to 16th Avenue to reach the other side.
This gap in east-west connectivity has real consequences for daily life. Commuters face longer travel times and additional congestion on the few existing crossing points. Emergency response times are affected when vehicles must detour to reach locations that are physically close but on the opposite side of the highway. Local businesses lose potential customers who find it inconvenient to cross the highway.
The new crossing addresses these issues directly. Once complete, it will provide residents in the growing communities on both sides of Highway 404, including the Cachet and Observatory Hill areas in Richmond Hill and the Cathedraltown and Angus Glen areas in Markham, with a direct connection that reduces travel distances and distributes traffic more evenly across the road network.
Active Transportation Connections
Beyond vehicle traffic, the project includes substantial investment in active transportation infrastructure. The multi-use pathways and sidewalks being built as part of the project will create new walking and cycling connections between Richmond Hill and Markham. For residents who commute by bicycle or who simply want to walk between communities, the new crossing will open routes that are currently unavailable.
The environmental components of the project, including the riverbank naturalization and native tree planting, also contribute to the broader green infrastructure network in the area. The Rouge River corridor is ecologically significant, and the project's environmental mitigation measures are designed to ensure that the new road crossing does not degrade the river's health.
Looking Ahead
With a late 2026 completion target, residents can expect to see the new crossing open for use later this year. York Region continues to provide project updates through its website and through newsletters distributed to residents in the construction zone.
The Highway 404 crossing is one of several major infrastructure projects underway in the Markham and Richmond Hill area. The 16th Avenue widening from Leslie Street to Kennedy Road is scheduled to begin construction in late 2026, and the Bathurst Street widening from Major Mackenzie Drive to north of Highway 7 started in spring 2026. Together, these projects represent a substantial investment in the road network that serves both cities.
For more local news, infrastructure updates, and community coverage across Markham and Richmond Hill, visit MarkhamBusiness.com.