capacity of the ramps handling QEW Toronto-bound to Highway 403 Brantford-bound traffic. The segment of Highway 403 between Hamilton and Brantford, also known as the Chedoke Expressway, had limited expansion capacity due to its older design as well as its winding and hilly nature that reduced travel speed. Proponents also asserted that, despite the introduction of the expressway, care would be taken to ensure that the Red Hill Valley would be preserved and environmentally improved from its current situation. Hamilton removed a toxic landfill leaking into the Creek, and made stream naturalization part of the construction project plan. Hamilton also made plans to replace park lands lost and plant trees to replace those lost to the expressway. Construction When Hamilton began construction of the expressway project, opponents began physically obstructing the construction of the project. Access roads were blocked, trees in the path of the roadway were occupied. Members of the Friends of the Red Hill Valley and Six Nations Confederacy camped out in the valley. Construction was halted while Hamilton fought a legal action launched by the Six Nations. Hamilton proceeded with legal action against the other occupiers. Eventually, the Six Nations entered into a partnership with Hamilton to manage the remaining green space. A Hamilton municipal election was held in 2003, with pro-expressway candidate Larry Di Ianni winning the mayorship over expressway opponent David Christopherson. Construction restarted in earnest with grading contracts in 2004. The squatters were removed, and full-time security guards patrolled the site during construction. The expressway unofficially opened on November 3, 2007. The opening was accompanied by the Road to Hope race run by 150 people. The parkway was originally scheduled to be officially opened to vehicular traffic on November 16, 2007 but the date was postponed to November 17, 2007. The final estimate of construction cost was $245 million for the long expressway. $120 million of the cost was paid for by the provincial government. In 2016, the existing ramps from the Red Hill Valley Parkway to Stone Church Road were incorporated into the new Upper Red Hill Valley Parkway, an arterial road extension to link to the parkway from Trinity Church Road and the Red Hill Business Park. Exit list References External links Video of the Lincoln M. Alexander and Red Hill Valley parkways Roads in Hamilton, Ontario