York Region Construction Season in Full Swing: Major Projects to Watch in 2026

York Region's 2026 road construction season is in full swing, with a number of significant projects underway that will affect commuters, residents, and businesses across the region for much of the year. From widening projects that will add capacity to key regional roads, to paving operations on rural routes and a major highway crossing nearing completion, the 2026 season represents a substantial investment in the region's transportation infrastructure.

Here is an overview of the major construction projects to watch across York Region in 2026, based on information from York Region's road construction schedule at york.ca/transportation/roads/road-construction-schedule.

Bathurst Street Widening

One of the most impactful projects of the 2026 season is the widening of Bathurst Street between Major Mackenzie Drive and north of Highway 7, which commenced in spring 2026. Bathurst Street is a critical north-south corridor connecting communities in the western portions of York Region, including sections of Richmond Hill and Vaughan, to the broader regional road network.

The widening project will increase road capacity on this segment, addressing long-standing congestion concerns on a corridor that has been serving a growing population with road infrastructure that has not kept pace with development. Construction on widening projects of this scale typically involves staged lane closures, temporary rerouting of traffic, and significant disruption to adjacent properties — particularly driveways and access points — over the course of the construction period.

Residents and businesses along the Bathurst Street corridor between Major Mackenzie Drive and Highway 7 should expect ongoing construction activity through the 2026 season and should monitor York Region's project updates for the latest information on closures and access changes.

York Durham Line Paving Operations

Paving operations are underway on York Durham Line — the regional road that forms part of the boundary between York Region and Durham Region — between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue, and between Elgin Mills Road and 19th Avenue. The paving operations are scheduled to run from May 4 to June 4, 2026, during daytime hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

York Durham Line serves as a key rural connector in the eastern part of York Region, used by commuters, agricultural operations, and residents accessing communities in Markham's northeastern areas and the boundary zones with Durham Region. Paving operations involve road surface grinding and repaving, which typically require lane closures and periodic complete closures to facilitate equipment movement. Drivers using York Durham Line during the May–June window should allow extra travel time and follow all construction zone signage.

19th Avenue Road Widening

Another significant capacity improvement is the widening of 19th Avenue between Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street, where the road is being expanded from two lanes to four lanes. This project addresses a longstanding bottleneck on 19th Avenue in the eastern part of Markham, a corridor that has been carrying growing traffic volumes as residential and commercial development in the surrounding area has intensified over the past decade.

A four-lane 19th Avenue between Bayview and Leslie will provide meaningful improvements to east-west travel capacity in northern Markham, connecting the Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street corridors more effectively and reducing delays for the residents and commuters who rely on this route. The project is among the most anticipated road improvements in northern Markham for 2026.

Highway 404 Road Crossing: Nearing Completion

The Highway 404 road crossing project — a new bridge connecting Orlando Avenue to Markland Street over the 404 corridor — is expected to be nearing completion in late 2026. This crossing addresses one of the most significant gaps in the east-west road network in southern Markham, where Highway 404 has historically acted as a barrier to local road connectivity between the communities on its east and west sides.

When complete, the new crossing will improve accessibility between Markham's established western neighbourhoods and the developing communities to the east of the 404, reducing reliance on widely-spaced interchanges and giving local traffic a new direct route across the highway corridor. Completion of this project is expected to have a meaningful positive effect on local traffic patterns in southern Markham.

Planning Your Travel Around Construction

The 2026 construction season will create temporary inconveniences for commuters and residents across York Region, but the improvements being made will pay long-term dividends in the form of better road capacity, improved surfaces, and enhanced connectivity. Staying informed is the best way to minimize the impact on your daily travel:

• Visit york.ca/transportation/roads/road-construction-schedule for the latest information on active and upcoming projects
• Check Google Maps or Waze before departing for real-time traffic information during construction periods
• Sign up for York Region's road construction email notifications to receive project-specific updates
• Allow extra travel time when your route passes through any of the active construction zones described above

Construction season runs roughly from April through November in York Region, with the most intensive activity during the spring and summer months when weather conditions are most favourable for road work. 2026 is shaping up to be one of the more active construction years in recent memory, reflecting both the pace of growth in the region and the infrastructure investment required to keep pace with it.

For more local news and community updates across Markham and Richmond Hill, visit MarkhamBusiness.com.