The Ontario Ministry of Transportation says it wants to get “shovels in the ground as soon as possible” on the new Highway 7 project.

The four-lane freeway to Guelph is proposed to run for about 18 kilometres just north of the current two-lane highway.

Taxpayers have already spent more than $120 million to buy property, conduct field work, realign streets and relocate utilities over the last two decades in preparation for its construction.

While the process has been slow, the ministry maintains it is continuing to move through its multi-phased approach.

“We are currently advancing the design and obtaining the approvals for the remaining phases of construction contracts for the new Highway 7 and want to get shovels in the ground as soon as possible,” said ministry spokesperson Simi Ikotun.

Meanwhile, four contractors have submitted design-build proposals for the replacement of the Frederick Street underpass in Kitchener.

Proposals for the project — expected to be awarded in January — were due to the ministry on Wednesday, said Ikotun.

Once a contractor is chosen, she said, construction will begin later in 2022 following detail design.

Currently, there are no plans to demolish any buildings as part of the Frederick Street underpass replacement project.

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