Ontario's Highways

[Great Lakes Roads]

Tolls are going to be removed on the provincially operated section of the 407 (east of Brock Road) on June 1st.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/video/news/doug-ford-announces-cut-to-provincial-gas-tax-removal-of-tolls-on-part-of-highway-407/vi-AA1EHsqs#details

[webny99]

The QEW is reduced to two lanes per direction for some sort of rehabilitation work near Seventh St, just west of St Catharines. This will affect any trips I take to Canada this season so I've been keeping a pretty close eye on it and it seems to be holding up reasonably well during the weekdays (as it should), but creating major issues on the weekends.

At one point yesterday afternoon, Niagara-bound traffic approaching the work zone was backed up almost to Lincoln - a distance of around 10km. There are simply no good alternates to this route aside from the Service Roads, which also back up quickly anytime the mainline is congested. For Toronto-bound traffic the situation can get even worse because the two lanes also have to accommodate entering traffic from ON 406, and once it backs up there are no service roads across Martindale Pond, so the only alternatives are going through Port Dalhousie or all the way down to ON 406, both of which require a significant detour on St. Catharines city streets.

[Rothman]

...or just plan on it taking more time to get to Toronto...

[webny99]

...or just plan on it taking more time to get to Toronto...

Of course, outside of overnight or early morning hours, assuming any sort of time frame for getting between Toronto and Niagara is a fool's errand to begin with.

[Rothman]

...or just plan on it taking more time to get to Toronto...

Of course, outside of overnight or early morning hours, assuming any sort of time frame for getting between Toronto and Niagara is a fool's errand to begin with.

I've never had a major issue getting to Toronto on the weekend.  Yep, there's some traffic.  It's a big city...

[webny99]

...or just plan on it taking more time to get to Toronto...

Of course, outside of overnight or early morning hours, assuming any sort of time frame for getting between Toronto and Niagara is a fool's errand to begin with.

I've never had a major issue getting to Toronto on the weekend.  Yep, there's some traffic.  It's a big city...

Depends on how you define 'major'. It's a 1 hour trip at best and 3+ at worst.

[Rothman]

...or just plan on it taking more time to get to Toronto...

Of course, outside of overnight or early morning hours, assuming any sort of time frame for getting between Toronto and Niagara is a fool's errand to begin with.

I've never had a major issue getting to Toronto on the weekend.  Yep, there's some traffic.  It's a big city...

Depends on how you define 'major'. It's a 1 hour trip at best and 3+ at worst.

That's what Google Maps/Waze is for.

[JREwing78]

The QEW really needs a companion E-W highway along the south side of Hamilton and Welland to connect into the QEW's terminus at Fort Erie, or a massive widening. Where connecting to Michigan justified 2 separate freeways, the connection to New York is choked down to one narrow, ancient 6-lane freeway. 

[Stephane Dumas]

The QEW really needs a companion E-W highway along the south side of Hamilton and Welland to connect into the QEW's terminus at Fort Erie, or a massive widening. Where connecting to Michigan justified 2 separate freeways, the connection to New York is choked down to one narrow, ancient 6-lane freeway.

There is a proposal called the Mid-Peninsula Highway or the "Mid-Pen" to parralel the QEW but it faced opposition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Peninsula_Highway

[Molandfreak]

...or just plan on it taking more time to get to Toronto...

Of course, outside of overnight or early morning hours, assuming any sort of time frame for getting between Toronto and Niagara is a fool's errand to begin with.

I've never had a major issue getting to Toronto on the weekend.  Yep, there's some traffic.  It's a big city...

Depends on how you define 'major'. It's a 1 hour trip at best and 3+ at worst.

That's what Google Maps/Waze is for.

And the 407.

[Rothman]

...or just plan on it taking more time to get to Toronto...

Of course, outside of overnight or early morning hours, assuming any sort of time frame for getting between Toronto and Niagara is a fool's errand to begin with.

I've never had a major issue getting to Toronto on the weekend.  Yep, there's some traffic.  It's a big city...

Depends on how you define 'major'. It's a 1 hour trip at best and 3+ at worst.

That's what Google Maps/Waze is for.

And the 407.

407 is for wiping out your bank account.

[webny99]

The QEW really needs a companion E-W highway along the south side of Hamilton and Welland to connect into the QEW's terminus at Fort Erie, or a massive widening. Where connecting to Michigan justified 2 separate freeways, the connection to New York is choked down to one narrow, ancient 6-lane freeway.

Yeah, for sure. The crazy thing is it wasn't that long ago that it was only four lanes, but the Golden Horseshoe has exploded so much in recent decades that even six lanes is no longer sufficient.

There is a proposal called the Mid-Peninsula Highway or the "Mid-Pen" to parralel the QEW but it faced opposition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Peninsula_Highway

I doubt this will ever happen, but it would be great as an extension of the 407 and an outer bypass of Hamilton.

Depends on how you define 'major'. It's a 1 hour trip at best and 3+ at worst.

That's what Google Maps/Waze is for.

And the 407.

The 407 ends at Burlington though. Burlington to Niagara is the real problem, especially in the summer months.

[Molandfreak]

Depends on how you define 'major'. It's a 1 hour trip at best and 3+ at worst.

That's what Google Maps/Waze is for.

And the 407.

The 407 ends at Burlington though. Burlington to Niagara is the real problem, especially in the summer months.

I know that all too well. While it isn't any faster, Regional Road 20 is a beautiful and stress-free drive, so that's good enough of an alternative for me.

[Rothman]

Just drove the Gardiner/QEW from Toronto to ON 405 right at rush hour.  Wasn't horrible.  Maybe 30 minutes of delay altogether.

[webny99]

Burlington to Niagara is the real problem, especially in the summer months.

I know that all too well. While it isn't any faster, Regional Road 20 is a beautiful and stress-free drive, so that's good enough of an alternative for me.

I've never done RR 20, but I'll keep it in mind if traffic is particularly bad this summer. Probably much more scenic than QEW, despite the "lake views" along the latter.

Just drove the Gardiner/QEW from Toronto to ON 405 right at rush hour.  Wasn't horrible.  Maybe 30 minutes of delay altogether.

Sounds about right for a weekday. On a summer weekend, Oakville to Grimsby alone can easily double that.

[Rothman]

Just drove the Gardiner/QEW from Toronto to ON 405 right at rush hour.  Wasn't horrible.  Maybe 30 minutes of delay altogether.

Sounds about right for a weekday. On a summer weekend, Oakville to Grimsby alone can easily double that.

Fearmongerer.

[webny99]

Just drove the Gardiner/QEW from Toronto to ON 405 right at rush hour.  Wasn't horrible.  Maybe 30 minutes of delay altogether.

Sounds about right for a weekday. On a summer weekend, Oakville to Grimsby alone can easily double that.

Fearmongerer.

Experience is the mother of wisdom.

Sincerely,
Your Resident Fearmongerer

[AsphaltPlanet]

Two vies looking east along Highway 401 from the Highway 400 interchange:



https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_cl_359_east_c_Sep25_42x28.jpg





https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_cl_359_east_EB_Sep25_42x28.jpg

[Stephane Dumas]

Google Earth show the new configuration in construction of the
QEW interchange with Dixie Road.

[MikeTheActuary]

Doug Ford is super-sizing some speed limit signs.

https://www.carscoops.com/2025/12/torontos-new-school-speed-limit-signs-are-8-feet-tall/

[AsphaltPlanet]

View looking west from the Rougemont Drive over overpass over the 401 at the Pickering/Scarborough boundary:

https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_cl_DSC05709_42x28.jpg

[andrepoiy]

View looking west from the Rougemont Drive over overpass over the 401 at the Pickering/Scarborough boundary:
[image snipped]
https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_cl_DSC05709_42x28.jpg

I don't know anything about cameras - is it normal for cameras to have "astigmatism"? Looking at the high-mast lighting

[AsphaltPlanet]

They are called sunstars.  They are created by the aperture of the lens and any bright light source.  Sunstars can be controlled by opening or closing the aperture on a lens.  Each individual lens will have its own distinct looking sunstar depending upon how many aperture blades the lens has as well as what type of internal coatings the lens uses to control flare and maintain contrast.  And yes, they are normal.

[AsphaltPlanet]

Views looking both south and north on Highway 400 from the Sheppard Avenue overpass in North York:


https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_400_images/400_cl_23_south_NB_Aug21_night_42x28.jpg


https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_400_images/400_cl_23_north_Aug21_night_42x28.jpg

[AsphaltPlanet]

Some photos of the Gardiner Expressway taken from a now demolished parking structure:


https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_2_images/2_GDR_DSC06637_42x28.jpg


https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_2_images/2_GDR_DSC06623_42x28.jpg