108-660: King's Highway 407 , commonly referred to as Highway 407 and colloquially as the "four-oh-seven", is a tolled 400-series highway in the Canadian province of Ontario . Comprising a privately leased segment and a publicly owned segment, the route spans the entire Greater Toronto Area (GTA) around the city of Toronto , travelling through the suburbs of Burlington , Oakville , Mississauga , Brampton , Vaughan , Markham , Pickering , Whitby , and Oshawa before ending in Clarington , north of Orono . At 151.4 km long, it
216-554: A controlled-access highway and former tolled highway in the Canadian province of Ontario . The 400-series highway is 9.2 km (5.7 mi) long, travelling through the Regional Municipality of Durham to connect Highway 401 with the eastern extension of Highway 407 . The freeway is located entirely within the Municipality of Clarington near Durham Regional Road 34 (Courtice Road). The route number
324-467: A 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph) limit on select stretches, and various collision avoidance and traffic management systems. The design of 400-series highways has set the precedent for a number of innovations used throughout North America , including the parclo interchange and a modified Jersey barrier design known as the Ontario Tall Wall. As a result, they currently experience one of
432-557: A 400-series highway may be built where the existing highway's traffic counts fall below 10,000. The MTO plans and finances the construction and maintenance of the King's Highway system, which includes the 400-series network. The system includes 1,971.8 kilometres (1,225.2 mi) of freeways. Highway 401 is the longest freeway at 828.0 kilometres (514.5 mi), in addition to being the widest and busiest road in Canada. Highway 420
540-557: A 90° angle and not crossing each other. Now travelling parallel to and immediately west of the Halton– Peel regional boundary and Oakville–Mississauga city limits, the six-lane Highway 407 progresses northwest alongside a power transmission corridor, with residential areas to the east and farmland to the west. The route continues as such northwest to Highway 401, passing under Lower Base Line and Eglinton Avenue and interchanging at Britannia Road and Derry Road before crossing
648-932: A curb and gutter system. Unlike most Ontario highways, it features concrete pavement as opposed to top-coated asphalt. Because of this, the high-mast lighting along the urban portions of the route features fewer luminaires than asphalt-surfaced freeways. Highway 407 begins in Burlington within Halton Region at the Freeman Interchange between Highway 403 and the QEW, from which it branches off northward. The six-lane route passes under Brant Street, Upper Middle Road, and Guelph Line (Halton Regional Road 1) before it interchanges with Dundas Street (Halton Regional Road 5, formerly Highway 5 ). It briefly enters green space as it curves gently to
756-610: A decision by the Ontario Divisional Court on November 7, 2005, the Ontario Registrar of Motor Vehicles was ordered to begin denying the validation or issue of Ontario licence plates and vehicle permits for 407 ETR users who have failed to pay owed fees. On November 22, 2005, the MTO announced that it would appeal the decision but would begin to deny plates until the appeal was decided. On February 24, 2006,
864-404: A minimum 4 lane cross-section with grade separation at all junctions. Interchanges tend to be spaced at least 1.5 kilometres apart in urban areas unless there are basket weave ramps or collector lanes to facilitated shorter merge distances. In rural areas, interchanges tend to be spaced at least 3 kilometres apart, although exceptions exist. When the cross-section of highway is larger than 10 lanes,
972-647: A modified trumpet interchange. Both Phase 1 of the 407 East Extension, as far as Harmony Road in Oshawa and Highway 412 opened to traffic on June 20, 2016. Phase 2A of the 407 East Extension, as far as Taunton Road in Clarington opened to traffic on January 2, 2018. Both Phase 2B of the 407 East Extension, as far as Highway 35 and Highway 115 in Clarington and Highway 418 opened to traffic on December 9, 2019. Similar to most other toll highways, Highway 407 features no toll booths. Rather,
1080-448: A month later on August 30. A provincially operated 65-kilometre (40 mi) long extension to the 407 ETR, known as Highway 407 East (or 407E) during planning, began construction in 2012, with the project undertaken in two separate phases. Phase 1 was opened on June 20, 2016, consisting of a 22-kilometre (14 mi) extension to Harmony Road in Oshawa, as well as the 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) Highway 412. The extension
1188-426: A month to allow motorists to test-drive the freeway. Several other sections were well underway at this point. A 13-kilometre (8.1 mi) extension westwards to Highway 401 was opened just months later on December 13, 1997. That section was connected with Highway 403 to the south on September 4, 1998, with a temporary two lane ramp connecting to Trafalgar Road. In the east, an extension to Markham Road, at what
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#17327905352611296-826: A network of controlled-access highways in the Canadian province of Ontario , forming a special subset of the provincial highway system . They are analogous to the Interstate Highway System in the United States or the Autoroute system of neighbouring Quebec , and are regulated by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO). The 400-series designations were introduced in 1952, although Ontario had been constructing divided highways for two decades prior. Initially, only Highways 400 , 401 and 402 were numbered; other designations followed in
1404-453: A system of cameras and transponders allows for automatic toll collection . It was one of the first highways to exclusively use open road tolling . Highway 407 is otherwise designed as a normal freeway; interchanges connect directly to crossroads. A radio antenna detects when a vehicle with a transponder enters and exits the highway, calculating the toll rate. For vehicles without a transponder, an automatic license plate recognition system
1512-643: Is a 151.4-kilometre (94.1 mi) controlled-access highway that encircles the GTA, passing through Burlington , Oakville , Mississauga , Brampton , Vaughan , Markham , Pickering , Whitby , Oshawa , and Clarington , as well as travelling immediately north of Toronto . Although the general public felt that tolling made the highway a luxury rather than fulfilling its original purpose of relieving traffic on Highway 401, Highway 407 ETR had average daily trip counts of over 350,000 vehicles in June 2014. The 407 ETR
1620-552: Is also built to 400-series standards, however a 400-series designation has yet to be applied. Most other freeways and expressways in Ontario that lack a 400-series designation have lower construction standards, lower design speeds and lower speed limits. The MTO began planning for the use of high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes with the HOV Opportunities Study, contracted to McCormick Rankin in 2001. This led to
1728-558: Is an electronically operated toll highway; there are no toll booths along the route. Distances are calculated automatically using transponders or automatic number-plate recognition , which are scanned at entrance and exit portals. Highway 407 was planned in the late 1950s as a freeway bypassing the Toronto segment of Highway 401, the busiest highway in North America. However, construction did not begin until 1987. During
1836-490: Is contractually responsible for maintaining high traffic levels as justification for increasing tolls, but conducts its own traffic studies. Despite increased usage, parallel roads that Highway 407 was intended to supplement continue to grow congested, forcing the MTO to revisit costly widening projects of Highway 401 and the QEW. Highway 407 was designed with aesthetics and environmental concerns in mind, featuring landscaped embankments, 79 storm drainage ponds, and
1944-442: Is largely tied down by the lease contract. On February 2, 2004, the government notified 407 ETR that it was considered to be in default of the contract because of 407 ETR's decision to raise toll rates without first obtaining provincial clearance. The court's initial decision sided with 407 ETR: on July 10, 2004, an independent arbitrator affirmed that 407 ETR has the power to raise toll rates without first consulting
2052-462: Is named Markham Road south of the freeway. Both Markham and McCowan were widened to four lanes between Highway 407 and Steeles Avenue at this time. This did not alleviate concerns, but on June 24, 1999, the extension opened to continued protest regardless. In 2000, the 407 consortium had planned to extend the four lane highway by 16 kilometres eastward from Markham to Brock Road in Pickering by
2160-607: Is now privately operated. The segment is operated privately under a 99-year lease agreement signed with the Conservative provincial government, which was sold in 1999 for about C$ 3.1 billion to a consortium of Canadian and Spanish investors operating under the name 407 International Inc. The privatization of the Highway ;407 ETR section has been the source of significant criticism, especially regarding increases in tolls, plate denial, and false charges. In addition,
2268-527: Is the fourth-longest expressway in Ontario's 400-series network, after Highways 417 , 400 , and 401 . The segment between Burlington and Brougham in Pickering is leased to and operated by the 407 ETR Concession Company Limited and is officially known as the 407 Express Toll Route ( 407 ETR ). It begins at the junction of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) and Highway 403 in Burlington and travels 108.0 km (67.1 mi) across
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#17327905352612376-485: Is the shortest of the routes at 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi). There are four examples of 400 series standard highways in Ontario that are not signed as such. The Gardiner Expressway between Highway 427 and Parklawn Road was originally built as a section of QEW (Hwy 451) and therefore is built to 400-series standards but lost its QEW designation after being downloaded to the City of Toronto. The section of Highway 7 between
2484-518: Is used. In both cases, monthly statements are mailed to users. The automatic plate recognition system is linked to several provincial and U.S. state motor vehicle registries. Toll rates are set by the 407 ETR and the Province of Ontario for their respectively owned sections. However, the province set out limitations in the 407 ETR lease contract for maintaining traffic volumes to justify toll rates. Despite this, rates have increased annually against
2592-475: The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices , Ontario utilizes green signs for guidance purposes, including distances to nearby interchanges and destinations. Generally, blue signage is used to list services and attractions at upcoming exits, known as Tourism-Oriented Directional Signing . However, several exceptions exist, notably blue guidance signage for toll highways such as Highway 407 , in addition to
2700-753: The Canadian Pacific Railway 's (CP) Galt Subdivision . At Highway 401, the route makes a sharp curve to the northeast, while interconnecting ramps weave across both freeways over several kilometres. It enters Peel Region at the Winston Churchill Boulevard (Peel Regional Road 19) overpass and follows another power transmission corridor just north of the Brampton–Mississauga boundary. Highway 407 swerves east and encounters an interchange with Mississauga Road (Peel Regional Road 1) just prior to crossing
2808-758: The Credit River and the Orangeville Brampton Railway , after which it enters the urban GTA. After passing interchanges with Mavis Road (Peel Regional Road 18) and Hurontario Street (formerly Highway 10 ), the route encounters Highway 410 at another sprawling interchange located over Etobicoke Creek . Over the next 7 kilometres (4.3 mi), the route nudges northward into Brampton, interchanging with Dixie Road (Peel Regional Road 4) and Bramalea Road and meeting another CN railway line, before crossing Steeles Avenue (Peel Regional Road 15). Highway 407 curves back to
2916-720: The Don River . It curves back eastward as it interchanges with Dufferin Street (York Regional Road 53), travelling adjacent to and south of Highway 7. After interchanges with Bathurst Street (York Regional Road 38) and Yonge Street (York Regional Road 1), Highway 407 crosses the CN Bala Subdivision, which carries the GO Transit Richmond Hill Line . After an interchange with Bayview Avenue (York Regional Road 34),
3024-652: The Ontario Tall Wall median barrier and the Parclo A-4 interchange design, the latter which became standard in the design for the widening of Highway 401 through Toronto in 1962. The Institute of Traffic Engineers subsequently recommended this design to replace the cloverleaf interchange throughout North America. Ontario highways rank fourth in North America for fatality rates, with 0.61 fatalities per 10,000 licensed drivers in 2017. However, this also includes two-lane provincial highways. On May 1, 2019,
3132-401: The collector lanes of highways. The baseline standard for the construction of or expansion to a freeway in Ontario is an average daily traffic count of 10,000 vehicles per day. However, other factors are considered as well, particularly future traffic volume forecasts. To promote economic development in a disadvantaged region (e.g., the current extension of Highway 400 to Northern Ontario ),
3240-529: The "worst financial missteps" by any government in Ontario's history. When purchased, the highway travelled from the junction of Highway 403 in Mississauga to Markham Road in Markham. Extensions westward to the QEW and eastward to Highway 7 and Brock Road in Pickering were constructed by the corporation, as mandated in the lease agreement. The western extension, from Highway 403 southwest to
3348-427: The 1930s. The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) was first, an upgrade to the partially constructed Middle Road in 1934. McQuesten also sought out the economic opportunities that came with linking Toronto to Detroit and New York state by divided roadways with interchanges at major crossroads. Although he no longer served as Minister of Highways by the onset of World War II , his ambitious plans would come to fruition in
Ontario Highway 407 - Misplaced Pages Continue
3456-471: The 1960s and 1970s, additional freeways were planned or built, including Highway 427 in Toronto, Highway 403 through Mississauga, Highway 410 north to Brampton and Highway 416 to connect Highways 401 and 417. Highway 420 was designated in Niagara Falls, though it had been built as part of the QEW in 1941. Other major works included the skyway bridges along the QEW and
3564-424: The 400-series network, several extensions of existing freeways have been built or are underway, including Highway 410 north of Brampton in 2009, Highway 400 to north of Parry Sound in 2010, Highway 417 to Arnprior in 2012, Highway 404 to Keswick in 2014, Highway 401 through Windsor in 2015, and four-laning Highway 406 to Welland in late 2015. The 400-series highways always have
3672-414: The 407 ETR Concession Company Limited ("407 ETR"), the operator and manager of the highway, is as follows: The concession has been called a "cash cow" for SNC-Lavalin, while local media has commented on the "huge jump" or "soar" in profits. The highway's initial construction cost was pegged at $ 1.5 billion. The toll concession was sold for $ 3.1 billion. In 1998, MPP E. J. Douglas Rollins claimed that
3780-963: The Chedoke Expressway (Highway 403) through Hamilton ; the Don Valley Parkway Extension (Highway 404) northward from the soon-to-be constructed Toronto expressway; Highway 405 to connect with the American border near St. Catharines ; Highway 406 south from St. Catharines to Welland ; Highway 407 encircling the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), though not built for another 40 years; Highway 409 to connect Highway 401 with Toronto International Airport ; and The Queensway (Highway 417) through Ottawa. The first sections of these freeways were opened in 1963, 1977, 1963, 1965, 1997, 1974, and 1960, respectively. Throughout
3888-539: The GTA to Brock Road in Pickering. East of Brock Road, the tollway continues east as Highway 407 (referred to as Highway 407 East during development to distinguish it from 407 ETR), a toll route operated by the provincial government, for 43.4 km (27.0 mi), to Highway 35 / 115 in Clarington. The route interchanges with nine freeways: the QEW, Highway 403, Highway 401 , Highway 410 , Highway 427 , Highway 400 , Highway 404 , Highway 412 , and Highway 418 . Highway 407
3996-747: The Government of Ontario announced that Highway 418 would become toll-free from April 5, 2022, together with Highway 412. Highway 418 used the same electronic tolling system as Highways 407 and 412 and is part of the same provincially tolled section of highway as Highways 412 and 407 East. The toll rate that applied to a specific trip was determined by the time at which a vehicle entered the highway and from 2021 to 2022 ranged from 19 to 30 ¢/km (31 to 48 ¢/mi) for vehicles that weighed less than 5 tonnes (light vehicles). Heavy vehicles (those weighing more than 5 tonnes) were split into two categories: Heavy single units, which were tolled approximately twice
4104-582: The Highway 407 extension and Highway 412 did not commence until February 2017. The tolls also applied to Highway 418 when first opened in December 2019. On April 5, 2022, Highways 412 and 418 became toll-free, but the tolls on the 407 East Extension remained. As of June 1, 2019, the following tolls applied for motorists using this section of the 407. The rate stayed the same in 2018 and rose in 2019: As of September, 2024 and unchanged since 2019, ownership of
4212-642: The Humber River valley alongside a CN line and along the northern border of Thackeray Conservation Lands, passing beneath a CP line. After an interchange with Pine Valley Drive (York Regional Road 57), the route becomes sandwiched between the industrial lands of the Pine Valley Business Park and the Emery Creek Corporate Park. A partial interchange with Weston Road (York Regional Road 56) lies just west of
4320-535: The June 2007 "Technically Recommended Route", which was submitted as part of the environmental assessment (EA) for the extension, but had been announced earlier that year on March 7 by the Government of Canada as part of an investment in Greater Toronto Area infrastructure. The EA report was released on August 17, 2009, and included detailed plans for the configuration of the interchanges along
4428-457: The MTO introduced a multibillion-dollar Horseshoe Network Project, which included plans to incorporate HOV lanes into numerous 400-series highways. By then, work was already advanced on several projects, including the northbound HOV lane on Highway 404 (that opened on July 23, 2007) and an HOV lane along both directions of Highway 403 between Highway 407 and Highway 401. A third pair of HOV lanes has since been introduced to
Ontario Highway 407 - Misplaced Pages Continue
4536-495: The Montreal-based engineering firm SNC-Lavalin (22.6%), and CDP Capital (16.1%). The 99-year lease agreement granted the consortium unlimited control over the highway and its tolls, dependent on traffic volume; however, the government maintains the right to build a transport system within the highway right-of-way. The highway has since been described as a "value generating monster" and "cash cow" for SNC-Lavalin and one of
4644-469: The Ontario Court of Appeals denied the government leave to appeal the 2005 decision. As a result, plate denial remains in place. The rate rose for tolls in 2019 and again in 2020. On December 31, 2019, it was announced that the highway would have seasonal toll rates. As of February 1, 2020, the base tolls for driving on the 407 ETR are as follows: To compensate for opening delays, tolling of both
4752-535: The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) for $ 3.25 billion, implying a $ 32.5 billion valuation of the highway. After the sale, SNC-Lavalin would own only 6.76% of the highway. In August 2019, a court approved the sale of SNC-Lavalin's 10% stake to CPPIB instead of to OMERS. Although the construction of Highway 407 did not begin until 1987, planning for the bypass of Highway 401 north of Toronto began in
4860-597: The QEW, was not part of the original Highway 407 concept in 1987; rather, the corridor was originally intended to connect the Hamilton and Mississauga sections of Highway 403. Highway 407 was originally slated to assume the temporary routing for Highway 403 along the Mississauga-Oakville boundary to end at the QEW. However, the Bob Rae led Ontario government altered these plans in 1995, and
4968-895: The QEW/403 through Oakville, and a fourth individual HOV lane travels eastbound on Highway 417 from just west of Eagleson Road in Ottawa to just east of Moodie Drive. More than 450 kilometres (280 mi) of HOV lanes are currently proposed for construction by 2031. Future plans include extending existing HOV lanes and introducing them to other 400-series freeways. as of October 2014 , two projects have been confirmed: Highway 410 between Highway 401 and Queen Street in Brampton, and Highway 427 between Highway 409 and Highway 7. The MTO has stated that HOV lanes will only be introduced through new construction and that no general-purpose lanes will be converted. The general goals of
5076-475: The Tremaine Road (Halton Regional Road 22) overpass, then gradually swerves to the north as it encounters an interchange with Bronte Road (Halton Regional Road 25, formerly Highway 25 ). The route crosses Sixteen Mile Creek just north of Glenarchy Conservation Area, then travels parallel to the creek for several kilometres. It swerves north after an interchange with Neyagawa Boulevard, near
5184-471: The community of Whitevale , south of the future Pickering Airport and the planned community of Seaton . Sandwiched between farm fields, the highway is crossed by North Road, before interchanging with Whites Road (formerly Sideline 26), an interchange which opened in February 2021. Highway 407 ended just south of Brougham at a signalized intersection with Brock Road (Durham Regional Road 1) until
5292-435: The connector highways, with an announced completion date of 2013. On January 27, 2009, the provincial government announced that the extension would be a tolled highway but owned by the province and with tolls set by the province. The announcement also indicated that the province expected to issue a Request for Proposals later in the year. The contract, which is valued at $ 1.6 billion and includes construction and operation of
5400-430: The corporation constructed this section quickly upon obtaining the lease. Sections opened throughout the middle of 2001: between Neyagawa Boulevard and Highway 403 on June 17; between Bronte Road and Neyagawa Boulevard on June 29; between Dundas Street and Bronte Road on July 18; and between the Freeman Interchange and Dundas Street on July 30. In the east, a final extension between Markham Road and Highway 7 opened
5508-429: The early 1990s, the provincial government proposed tolling the highway to alleviate a revenue shortfall. The central sections of Highway 407 opened in 1997, and the remaining sections were built quickly over the following four years, with the final segment opening in mid-2001. Despite being included in the 400-series network, the Highway 407 ETR section is not considered part of the provincial highway network as it
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#17327905352615616-427: The end of 2015, where it continued eastward as Highway 7. A new interchange has been built in conjunction with the provincially maintained and tolled extension, Highway 407E, which was constructed east of this point, and ties in with the current freeway, eliminating the at-grade intersection. Immediately east of Brock Road, drivers enter the provincially operated portion of the highway. Right before Brock Road,
5724-434: The end of the decade, construction of Highway 407 and Highway 416 had begun, and Highway 410 was expanded from two to four lanes. Highways 407 and 416 opened in the late 1990s. Until early 2015, Highways 407 and 416 were the most-recently designated (and constructed) freeways in Ontario. This has changed with the construction of Highways 412 and 418 . In addition to these new additions to
5832-494: The end of the following year. The 16 kilometre segment of Highway 407 from Markham to Brock Road in Pickering opened on August 24, 2001. When Mike Harris was elected Premier in 1995 on his platform of the Common Sense Revolution , the Ontario government faced an $ 11 billion annual deficit and a $ 100 billion debt. Seeking to balance the books, a number of publicly owned services were privatized over
5940-558: The expansion of Highway 401 through most of Toronto into twelve-lane collector–express systems. By the mid-1980s, the network had more-or-less taken its current shape, with only Highways 407, 412, 416 and 418 yet to be built. Instead, emphasis was placed on expanding existing routes to accommodate increasing traffic volumes. However, extensions of Highway 400 towards Parry Sound , Highway 403 between Woodstock and Hamilton, Highway 404 towards Newmarket , and Highway 427 towards Vaughan were underway. By
6048-581: The first of three large interchanges with other 400-series highways in York Region. The Highway 427 interchange is a four-level partial stack located just north of Steeles Avenue in Vaughan and adjacent to the 407 ETR Concession Company offices. The interchange features weaved ramps which connect to former Highway 27 , located just to the east. The route continues eastward, parallel to and between Steeles Avenue and Highway 7. It dives through
6156-417: The first quarter of 2013. In early December 2015, it was announced that contractor delays would push the opening of the first phase from December 18 to the spring of 2016. The extension did not open until the morning of June 20, 2016, in the last hours of Spring 2016. On December 9, 2019, the final portion of the 407 East highway, the section of the highways east of and all of Ontario Highway 418 opened to
6264-599: The following decades as Highways 400, 401, 402, 403 (between Woodstock and Hamilton), and 405. The construction boom following the war resulted in many new freeway construction projects in the province. The Toronto–Barrie Highway (Highway 400), Trans-Provincial Highway (Highway 401), a short expansion of Highway 7 approaching the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia (Highway 402), and an expansion of Highway 27 (eventually designated as Highway 427 by
6372-461: The following years. Although initially spared, Highway 407 was privatized quickly in the year leading up to the 1999 provincial elections. It was leased to a conglomerate of private companies for $ 3.1 billion. The Ontario-based corporation, known as 407 International Inc. , was initially owned by the Spanish multinational Ferrovial through its subsidiary Cintra Infraestructuras (61.3%),
6480-583: The former alignment of Rundle Road. Immediately north of Taunton Road, the route ends at an interchange with Highway 407, which is a toll route; ETC cameras are present there. Highway 418 is the second of two freeways connecting the eastern extension of Highway 407 with Highway 401; the other is Highway 412 , located to the west in Whitby . The two routes, known then as the East Durham Link and West Durham Link, first appeared as part of
6588-542: The freeway meets with Highway 412 at a large Y-interchange. Highway 407 then curves southeast to bypass the town of Brooklin . It is crossed by Highway 7 once again before interchanging with Highway 12 /Baldwin Street and Thickson Road. The freeway becomes parallel with a hydro line briefly. The freeway once again curves northeast, crossing the Whitby / Oshawa border, passing over Thornton Road and Winchester Road before interchanging with Simcoe Street and Harmony Road. The freeway then curves sharply southeast, crossing under
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#17327905352616696-419: The freeway turns northeast. After interchanging with Brock Road, the freeway is crossed by Highway 7 and Sideline 14 before it slowly eases due east. The freeway is flanked by farmland is then crossed by Westney Road, Salem Road, where there is a maintenance depot, and Kinsale Road, before interchanging with Lake Ridge Road, which forms the border between Pickering and Whitby. Immediately east of Lake Ridge Road,
6804-433: The full extension in one project, but failed to pass. Instead, a compromise was issued on March 10, 2011: the first phase would extend Highway 407 to Harmony Road in Oshawa by 2015, including Highway 412; the second phase would then complete the extension to Highway 35 / 115 by 2020, including Highway 418. This timeline was confirmed by Premier Dalton McGuinty on May 24, 2012, and construction began in
6912-525: The government of Ontario was looking towards raising the speed limits of the 400-series highways up to 120 km/h (75 mph) Jeff Yurek , Transportation Minister at that time had stated that "The 400-series highways were built for, I believe, a speed limit of 120 km/h safely." A 110 km/h (68 mph) trial was set up on three stretches of highways on September 26, 2019, to test the viability of increasing speed limits. The three trialed sections along with three more sections were permanently changed to
7020-458: The government. The government filed an appeal of this decision but was overruled by an Ontario Superior Court decision released on January 6, 2005; however, a subsequent ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal on June 13, 2005, granted the government permission to appeal the decision. Around the same time, the government also faced off against 407 ETR in court regarding plate denial . 400-series highways The 400-series highways are
7128-410: The hamlet of Glenarchy. After diverging from the creek, it curves northeast, parallel to and north of Burnhamthorpe Road , where it interchanges with Trafalgar Road (Halton Regional Road 3). Highway 407 then encounters Highway 403, where it curves sharply to the northwest, while Highway 403 curves from the southeast to the northeast; resulting in both highways meeting and deflecting at
7236-403: The hamlet of Hampton before interchanging with Bowmanville Avenue. The freeway is crossed by Middle Road, Liberty Street, and Bethesda Road before it turns slightly northeast. The freeway interchanges with Darlington-Clarke Townline with a B4 Parclo interchange, which is the last interchange on the freeway. The freeway then crosses Leskard Road and Best Road, before ending at Highway 35 / 115 with
7344-426: The higher speed limit on April 22, 2022, and two more sections were trialed. The two trialed sections were made permanent along with 10 more sections on July 12, 2024. On October 2, 2024, Premier Doug Ford mentioned in a press conference that he had directed Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria to raise the speed limit on all remaining 400-series highway sections “where it is safe to do so”. Conforming with
7452-611: The highway corridor) located to the south. Still travelling alongside a power transmission corridor, Highway 407 crosses a complex rail wye which provides access to the CN freight yards to the north. After interchanging with Keele Street (York Regional Road 6), the route gently curves northward, passing under the CN Newmarket Subdivision, which carries the GO Transit Barrie Line and crossing
7560-473: The highway swerves south and enters Markham. A partial interchange with Leslie Street (York Regional Road 12) precedes the third and final large freeway–freeway junction at Highway 404. East of Highway 404, the freeway travels generally parallel to the Rouge River . It interchanges with Woodbine Avenue (York Regional Road 8) and Warden Avenue (York Regional Road 65), east of which
7668-481: The highway, was eventually awarded to the same consortium that owns 407 ETR. On June 9, 2010, the MTO approved the extension as far east as Simcoe Street in Oshawa, announcing plans to phase construction of the extension. Local residents and politicians rejected the plan, as had happened with the section between McCowan Road and Markham Road. A motion was proposed in the Ontario Legislature to build
7776-468: The hydro lines it was just parallel to, crossing Winchester Street for the last time, and crossing the Oshawa/Clarington border. The freeway then is crossed by Langmaid Road and Concession Road 6 before turning due east and interchanging with Enfield Road. The freeway passes south of the hamlet of Solina before meeting Highway 418 at another large Y-interchange. Highway 407 then jogs north of
7884-409: The lack of protective guardrails along sharp curves, in addition to the lack of a concrete median barrier to separate the two travel directions. However, it was also argued that the large grass median was sufficient to prevent crossover collisions, given that Highway 410 has a similar median. The Ontario provincial government has quarrelled with 407 ETR over toll rates and customer service but
7992-506: The large four-level stack interchange with Highway 400, the only of its kind in Canada. An interchange with Jane Street (York Regional Road 55) is interwoven into the east side of the Highway 400 interchange, below which pass the tunnels of the Line 1 Yonge–University subway, with the Highway 407 station (with its large commuter parking lot and GO Transit bus terminal serving
8100-512: The late 1950s. Concepts for the new "dual highway" first appeared in the 1959 plan for Metropolitan Toronto. Land adjacent to several hydro corridors was acquired for the future freeway in the 1960s, but sat vacant as the Ontario Department of Highway (predecessor to the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO)) opted instead to widen Highway 401 to a twelve-lane collector-express system. The Highway 401 expansion project
8208-512: The light vehicle rate, and heavy multi-units, which are tolled approximately three times the light vehicle rate. People using the highway may have used the 407 ETR transponders , which are still used throughout Highway 407, and light vehicles paid an additional video toll without a transponder. Heavy vehicles were legally required to have a transponder and may have been charged under the Highway Traffic Act if they did not. There
8316-476: The lowest accident and fatality rates comparative to traffic volume in North America. When the 400-series designations were first applied to Ontario freeways in 1952, several divided highways had already been opened in Southern Ontario. Originally inspired by German Autobahns , Minister of Highways Thomas McQuesten planned a network of "Dual Highways" across the southern half of the province during
8424-547: The mid-1970s) into part of the Toronto Bypass were all underway or completed by the early 1950s. Seeking a way to distinguish the controlled-access freeways from the existing two-lane King's Highways, the Department of Highways created the 400-series designations in 1952. By the end of the year, Highway 400, 401, and 402 were numbered, although they were only short stubs of their current lengths. Highway 401
8532-448: The new freeway. The report also sought approval for the 6 lanes anticipated to be required by 2031. On February 6, 2015, it was announced by the MTO that the East Durham Link would be designated Highway 418. On March 23, 2015, a C$ 1.2 billion contract was awarded for the second phase of the Highway 407 east project, which included construction of Highway 418. It was split into 2 phases, 2A and 2B. Phase 2A, which included
8640-680: The northeast as it interchanges with Airport Road (Peel Regional Road 7) and passes beneath another CN line, before encountering the final interchange in Peel Region at Goreway Drive. It crosses the West Humber River and former Highway 50 in Claireville Conservation Area before curving east into Vaughan, in York Region . Immediately after crossing into Vaughan, Highway 407 encounters
8748-621: The northeast, avoiding the nearby Niagara Escarpment . The route is crossed by Walkers Line, east of which residential subdivisions line the south side and green space lines the north. At an interchange with Appleby Line (Halton Regional Road 20), the highway straightens and travels parallel to Dundas Street before passing over Bronte Creek and under the Canadian National Railway 's (CN) Halwest Subdivision. East of Bronte Creek, Highway 407 enters an agricultural area, interspersed with woodlots . It enters Oakville at
8856-535: The portion of the highway north of Taunton Road, was finished by December 2017 and opened on January 2, 2018. The portion that opened would be temporarily signed as part of Highway 407. The section of Highway 407 east of Enfield Road was temporarily closed on September 9, 2019, to reconfigure the ramps at the Taunton Road interchange in preparation for the opening of the remainder of the highway. The highway fully opened on December 9, 2019. On February 18, 2022,
8964-806: The project are to help increase highway efficiency (an HOV lane is claimed by the Ontario government to have the ability to move as many people as four general-purpose lanes), reduce congestion, conserve energy and help protect the environment. During the 2015 Pan American Games and 2015 Parapan American Games held in Toronto , several HOV lanes had their minimum requirements increased from two passengers to three, and some highways had their general-purpose lanes temporarily converted to HOV lanes to accommodate increased traffic. These temporary restrictions lasted from June 29 to August 18. 2021 saw several new HOV lanes opened. The southbound HOV lane on Highway 400 between King Road and Major Mackenzie Drive
9072-516: The proposed extension was undertaken in the early 2000s. The assessment also included studies of the two north–south connectors. A preferred route was announced in June 2007, and the EA was completed in June 2009. On March 6, 2007, as part of the FLOW initiative, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario confirmed the extension of the 407 to Highway 35 and Highway 115 in Clarington, including
9180-539: The province had as much as $ 104 billion invested in the highway. On October 5, 2010, the Canada Pension Plan announced that an agreement had been reached with the highway's owners to purchase a 10% stake for $ 894 million. This implied a value of close to $ 9 billion for the highway in its then-current state. In April 2019, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. announced the sale of a 10.01% share of the highway to
9288-441: The provincial system as a toll-free 400-series highway. The succeeding government of Bob Rae announced on March 31, 1995, that the corridor reserved for Highway 403 between Burlington and Oakville would instead be built as a western extension of Highway 407. The first segment of Highway 407, between Highway 410 and Highway 404 , was ceremonially opened to traffic on June 7, 1997; no tolls were charged for
9396-425: The provincially owned portion of Highway 407 to Highway 35 / Highway 115 in Clarington. This construction was completed in two stages, with Phase 2A opening on January 2, 2018, as a 9.6 km (6.0 mi) extension to Taunton Road, and Phase 2B opening on December 9, 2019, as a 23.3 km (14.5 mi) extension to Highway 35 and Highway 115. Included as part of this extension
9504-447: The public, marking the end of the 407 East project. The final portion was originally projected to be completed in 2020. Unlike when the extension originally opened, tolling started immediately on the final portion. The highway now extends east to Ontario Highway 115 , providing more options for people living in and around Peterborough to get into Toronto and the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. Between 2018 and 2019, Highway 407
9612-433: The requests of the provincial government, resulting in several court battles and the general public regarding the route as a luxury. As part of the contractual agreement with the government, the MTO is required to deny licence plate validation stickers to drivers who have an outstanding 407 ETR bill over 125 days past due. This process was temporarily halted in February 2000 due to numerous false billing claims. Following
9720-782: The road is usually arranged into a local–express lane system, which exist on sections of Highways 400, 401, 403, 404 and 427. On all but a few interchanges in the whole system, ramps merge freely on the highway except if there are ramp meters in use, and stop or yield controlled ramps are rare. An interchange with stop-controlled ramps onto Highway 400 at Canal Road is currently scheduled for replacement. While older freeways have some lapses in safety features, contemporary 400-series highways have design speeds of 130 km/h (81 mph), speed limits ranging from 80 km/h (50 mph) to 110 km/h (68 mph), various collision avoidance and traffic management systems, and several design standards adopted throughout North America. Of note are
9828-503: The road, the toll rate increases, and the 99-year lease period have been widely criticized. Cost-saving measures and ensuing safety concerns resulted in an independent Ontario Provincial Police investigation shortly before the opening of the freeway. An expert panel of engineers , assembled by the Professional Engineers Ontario , released a report outlining concerns regarding the decreased loop ramp radii and
9936-427: The route lies between Hancock Road and Rundle Road, east of Courtice . At the southern end, the route begins at a three-way interchange with Highway 401, from which it proceeds north. It then interchanges with former Highway 2 . North of former Highway 2, the route swerves eastward and crosses Solina Road. Just before a partial interchange with Taunton Road, the highway again swerves slightly eastward to
10044-667: The route travels alongside a CN line and crosses the GO Transit Unionville Line . Highway 407 continues straight eastward into a residential area, interchanging with Kennedy Road (York Regional Road 3), McCowan Road (York Regional Road 67), and Markham Road (York Regional Road 68), where it crosses the river and diverges from both the CN line and power transmission corridor. The route interchanges with Ninth Line (York Regional Road 69) and Donald Cousens Parkway (York Regional Road 48) before exiting
10152-477: The safety of segments built after the sale of the freeway has been called into question. Phase 1 of a provincially owned and tolled extension of the route, known solely as Highway 407 (not Highway 407 ETR), opened to traffic from Brock Road in Pickering to Harmony Road in Oshawa on June 20, 2016. Included as part of this extension was the construction of a tolled north–south link between Highways 401 and 407, known as Highway 412 . Phase 2 later extended
10260-450: The similar sizes of the suburban municipalities the highway passes through in York and Peel Regions, and control cities are not shown at street entrances in these regions, as is the case for freeways passing through Toronto. In the east, Peterborough is reached by briefly following the Highway 35/Highway 115 concurrency north and then continuing northeast on Highway 115 alone. Highway 407
10368-466: The subsequent decades. To this day, not all controlled-access highways in Ontario are a part of the 400-series highway network. The network is situated almost entirely in Southern Ontario , although Highway 400 extends into the more remote northern portion of the province. Modern 400-series highways have high design standards, speed limits of 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph), with
10476-524: The test trial of three HOV lanes in the GTA in December 2005: southbound Highway 404 between Highway 7 and Highway 401, with a dedicated HOV ramp built to connect with westbound Highway 401, and Highway 403 in both directions between Highway 407 and Highway 401 in Mississauga. Since then, HOV lanes have been opened on several 400-series freeways around the Golden Horseshoe and National Capital Region . In May 2007,
10584-429: The town of Carleton Place and its junction with Highway 417 is also built to 400-series standards, but a 400-series designation has yet to be applied. Highway 69 between Sudbury and Key River is built to 400-series standards in anticipation of it becoming part of Highway 400 once the 70-kilometre (43 mi) gap between the two freeways is filled. Highway 115 north of Highway 35/Highway115 concurrency and Peterborough
10692-399: The urban GTA and curving northeast over a CP line and into Rouge Park . Until the opening of the first phase of 407E in June 2016, the final interchange along Highway 407 was with York–Durham Line (York/Durham Regional Road 30), the boundary between York Region and Durham Region as well as Markham and Pickering. The route curves eastward, then crosses West Duffins Creek north of
10800-468: Was assembled across the province in a patchwork fashion, becoming fully navigable between Windsor and the Quebec border on November 10, 1964; Highway 400 was extended north to Coldwater on Christmas Eve 1959; Highway 402 was extended to London between 1972 and 1982. In addition to this network backbone, plans for additional 400-series highways were initiated by the late 1950s, comprising
10908-540: Was confirmed by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) alongside Highway 412 on February 6, 2015. Prior to this, it was known as the East Durham Link . Highway 418 opened on December 9, 2019, alongside the extension of Highway 407 to Highways 35 and 115 . On April 5, 2022, Highway 418 became toll-free. Highway 418 is a 9.2-kilometre (5.7 mi) four-lane highway extending from Highway 401 to Highway 407. The entire length of
11016-432: Was considered a success and construction of Highway 407 was shelved for almost thirty years. The plan was revisited in the mid-1980s as congestion in Toronto pushed roads beyond capacity. In 1986, Premier David Peterson was given a helicopter tour of the city during rush-hour; construction of the highway was announced soon thereafter, and began in 1987. The Ontario government's normal process for highway construction
11124-443: Was free of tolls until February 1, 2017. Phase 2A, which opened on January 2, 2018, added a 9.6-kilometre (6.0 mi) extension to Taunton Road at the future Highway 418 interchange. Phase 2B, which opened on December 9, 2019, added a 23.3-kilometre (14.5 mi) extension to Highway 35 and Highway 115, as well as the 12.8-kilometre (8.0 mi) Highway 418. An environmental assessment (EA) to analyze
11232-541: Was not possible given the financial constraints of the recession of the early 1990s. The Peterson government sought out private sector partnerships and acquired innovative electronic tolling technology. Two firms bid on the project, with the Canadian Highways International Corporation being selected as the operator of the highway. Financing for the highway was to be paid by user tolls lasting 35 years, after which it would return to
11340-449: Was opened on September 11, 2021; while the northbound lane opened two months later on November 11. The Highway 427 extension, which opened on September 18, included an HOV lane north of Finch Avenue. The following table lists planned expansions to the HOV network by 2031. Ontario Highway 418 King's Highway 418 , or simply Highway 418 , is
11448-414: Was the construction of another tolled north–south link between Highways 401 and 407, known as Highway 418 . Unusually, the highway does not reach or pass through any of its three control cities : Hamilton, Toronto, or Peterborough . Hamilton is accessed by following either the QEW or Highway 403 beyond its western terminus in Burlington. Toronto proper is bypassed but is used as a control city due to
11556-442: Was then the southern terminus of Highway 48 , was completed in early 1998. However, due to the protest of local residents and officials concerning traffic spill-off (a scenario revisited with the extension to Oshawa), the freeway was opened only as far as McCowan Road on February 18. The short segment from McCowan Road to Markham Road remained closed for over a year, as locals feared the funneling of traffic onto Main Street, which
11664-613: Was widened between Markham Road and Brock Road. The first project, widening the highway to 6 lanes between York-Durham Line and Brock Road, began in Spring 2018 and was completed in August 2018. The second project, which widened the highway to 8 lanes between Markham Road and York-Durham Line, was completed in September 2019. Highway 407 ETR has been the subject of several controversies over its two decades of existence. The privatization of
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