Ontarians skeptical of Highway 401 tunnel expansion project: poll

A new poll finds significant public opposition to the provincial government’s proposal to build a tunnel under Highway 401, with a majority of Ontarians favoring other infrastructure and social priorities.

The Liaison Strategies poll, conducted from December 5-7, 2025, for Focus Ontario also shows the governing Progressive Conservatives maintaining a nine-point lead over the Ontario Liberals among decided voters.

While the government leads in the horse race, their signature Highway 401 tunnel proposal is facing a uphill climb with the public. Only 28 per cent of Ontarians support the project, while 45 per cent are opposed. When asked to choose the top transportation priority for the GTA, only six per cent of respondents chose the tunnel. Instead, 33 per cent say the priority should be improving public transit, followed by improving local roads and intersections at 20 per cent.

“The data suggests that only PC voters support the project,” said David Valentin, Principal at Liaison Strategies. “56 per cent of PC supporters back the tunnel, 20 per cent oppose it and 16 per cent are neutral. Across almost every other demographic and region, opposition outweighs support. With 78 per cent supporting the release of previous studies, transparency will likely be a key issue for the government moving forward.

“Though a lot of Ontarians believe the project would achieve little and oppose the project, many of these same Ontarians would vote for Doug Ford and the PC Party if an election were held today.”

Key findings from the survey include:

• Transparency and Safety: 78% of Ontarians believe the government should publicly release previous studies on the tunnel, even if they raise serious concerns.
• Safety Concerns: While 58% of respondents were initially concerned about safety and construction risks, that number jumped to 75% (with 49% ‘very concerned’) after being informed of reported internal risks like roadway collapse.
• Opportunity Costs: If the tunnel project limits funding for other priorities, 46% of Ontarians would prefer the province focus on healthcare, education, or housing. Only 7% would prioritize building the tunnel over these areas.
• Trust and Impact: 36% of Ontarians have ‘no trust at all’ in the government to manage the project safely, on budget, and transparently. Furthermore, 47% believe the tunnel will do ‘nothing’ or ‘a little’ to actually reduce traffic congestion.
• Project Characterization: Nearly half of Ontarians (48%) describe the project as ‘unrealistic, risky and wasteful,’ compared to 18% who view it as a ‘bold, nation-building project’.

Featured image: (AMICO)