Before the City of London creates 200 hectares of new industrial land, a project promised in the 2011 provincial budget must be in place.
CTV News has learned that work on the new interchange at Highway 401 and Wonderland Road will start next week.
The interchange will create an opportunity for thousands of new jobs according to councillor Paul VanMeerbergen.
"It's about time that the 10th largest city in Canada caught up with the times and tap into the 401," says VanMeerbergen.
Wonderland Road is phase one of a $115-million project to upgrade and expand all of the city's interchanges.
The city is contributing $27 million with the rest coming from the province.
The Wonderland interchange is the keystone project to the city's industrial land strategy.
Without a link to the 401 the NAFTA Free Trade Highway, industry would likely never set up shop on these surrounding lands.
Former provincial cabinet minister Chris Bentley pushed hard for the project in 2011.
"You travel between Oshawa and Guelph along the 401 you will see what there can be. It's not just industrial but its logistics, and head offices," says Bentley.
The Wonderland interchange will also become the gateway to a proposed commercial and residential corridor north of the 401 expected to include a Walmart, Lowes and other stores.
"There's so much land, so much opportunity on the western edge of the city as you come into London," adds VanMeerbergen.
