[lenaitch]

It would be interesting if the Gardiner were given the QEW designation and the DVP the Highway 404 designation, even if the Toronto portion would still be informally called the Gardiner and the DVP, respectively. Allen Road remains owned by the City of Toronto.

They will most likely be given a number by the MTO for internal administrative purposes (QEW is 451). Whether they are tacked on to the existing highways they are connected to remains to be seen.

Distance markers/interchange numbers for the QEW are west to east from Fort Erie so could simply be extended. Interestingly, the 'start' of Hwy 404 at the 401 is Exit 16 (almost like they saw this coming, or maybe that was the original plan way back when). I don't know if the 'mileage' tables and marker signs would have to change. No doubt the MTO will have to figure out how to integrate Toronto Transportation data into their systems.

 

[innsertnamehere]

They will most likely be given a number by the MTO for internal administrative purposes (QEW is 451). Whether they are tacked on to the existing highways they are connected to remains to be seen.

Distance markers/interchange numbers for the QEW are west to east from Fort Erie so could simply be extended. Interestingly, the 'start' of Hwy 404 at the 401 is Exit 16 (almost like they saw this coming, or maybe that was the original plan way back when). I don't know if the 'mileage' tables and marker signs would have to change. No doubt the MTO will have to figure out how to integrate Toronto Transportation data into their systems.

QEW is actually usually just “1” on contract documents.

There are some repaving contracts out to bid on the QEW in Niagara right now and the highway label is “1”.

It’s always been odd to me that Ontario never historically had a highway 1 - the QEW is almost so old so as to date from the start of the highway network anyway and kind of claims it, I think, but still.

Both the Gardiner and DVP were planned in tandem with the connecting provincial freeways as well - remember also that the QEW also historically extended to the Humber River until 1997.. MTO actually expanded and rebuilt the Humber River crossing / Lakeshore exits in the early 90’s right before it was downloaded. I believe exit numbers already align with the 404/QEW because of the planning.

 

[Dreambig1]

It would have been nice to have also seen an announcement about round-the-clock work on the next section of the Gardiner also announced. It's very quiet all of a sudden, and there is still much work to be done. At this rate, work will continue well into the 2030s on this project when it shoulda been done like 25 years ago before population and traffic within the DT area swelled.

 

[Jonathan's Junction]

I believe exit numbers already align with the 404/QEW because of the planning.

They do. The QEW and 404 exit numbers carry on right to downtown, although this only happened a few years ago (there used to be no exit numbers at all) and the signage seems a bit tacked on.

 

[nfitz]

They do. The QEW and 404 exit numbers carry on right to downtown, although this only happened a few years ago (there used to be no exit numbers at all) and the signage seems a bit tacked on.

Correct. The Richmond/Adelaide interchange on the DVP is exit "1" And the old Lakeshore exit on the Gardiner (at the Don River - watch out for that drop!) was exit "157"

Both of these were done around 2016/2017 during maintenance shut downs. I think we had some discussion here or on another thread at the time.

DVP Exit 1

Gardiner Exit 157

 

[lenaitch]

It’s always been odd to me that Ontario never historically had a highway 1 - the QEW is almost so old so as to date from the start of the highway network anyway and kind of claims it, I think, but still.

The conventional wisdom, whether or not true, was that when the province began numbering highways in 1925, every city, town and village lobbied to be on 'Hwy 1' so they decided not to designate one, I suppose appeasing, ignoring and satisfying no one all at the same time.

 

[ShonTron]

The conventional wisdom, whether or not true, was that when the province began numbering highways in 1925, every city, town and village lobbied to be on 'Hwy 1' so they decided not to designate one, I suppose appeasing, ignoring and satisfying no one all at the same time.

And, as I mentioned before, Highway 2, which became the main route across Southern Ontario, had a continuous number from Windsor to Halifax. The NB section kept the number through all the upgrades and reroutings, while Trunk Highway 2 still exists in NS, though most traffic takes 104 and 102 now.