By Kevin Werner, News Staff

 Highway 403 betweenYork BoulevardandAberdeen Avenueis getting a $23.8 million makeover thanks to the federal and provincial governments.

The federal and Ontariogovernments announced March 15 they are each contributing $7.8 million for the $15.6 million rehabilitation and resurfacing work on Highway 403 from one kilometer west ofYork Boulevardto one kilometer west of Aberdeen Avenue. In addition, both governments are also equally splitting the $8.2 million cost of repairing the eastbound and westbound lane overpasses on the Desjardins Canal Bridge and Plains Road underpass. Officials said the bridge needs to have improvements made to its structural integrity to extend its lifespan.

Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale Liberal MPP Ted McMeekin said depending upon how the process goes construction should begin by 2015-2016.

“It’s definitely needed,” said McMeekin. “We want to make sure the road is safe for all the motorists that use it.”

Federal funding is contingent upon the completion of the review of the project, completing all environmental assessments, and the signing of a contribution agreement with the province. McMeekin said environmental assessments are already underway on the project.

The federal funding is from its $8.8 billion Building Canada Fund’ Major Infrastructure Component, established in 2007 to providing money for projects until 2014, while the money for the bridge work is coming from the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund.