Ontario Highway 401 - wikipedia Ontario Highway 401 Jump to : navigation , search `` Highway 401 '' redirects here . For other uses , see List of highways numbered 401 . Highway 401 Macdonald -- Cartier Freeway Highway 401 within Southern Ontario Route information Maintained by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario Length 828.0 km ( 514.5 mi ) History Proposed 1938 Opened December 1947 -- October 11 , 1968 Extended June 28 and November 21 , 2015 Major junctions West end Ojibway Parkway in Windsor E.C. Row Expressway in Windsor Highway 402 in London Highway 403 near Woodstock Highway 407 near Milton Highway 403 / Highway 410 in Mississauga Highway 427 in Toronto Highway 409 in Toronto Highway 400 in Toronto Don Valley Parkway / Highway 404 in Toronto Highway 412 in Whitby Highway 416 towards Ottawa East end A-20 towards Montreal , QC Location Major cities Windsor , London , Kitchener , Cambridge , Mississauga , Toronto , Oshawa , Kingston and Cornwall Highway system Ontario provincial highways List 400 - series Former ← Highway 400 Highway 402 → King 's Highway 401 , commonly referred to as Highway 401 and also known by its official name as the Macdonald -- Cartier Freeway or colloquially as the four - oh - one , is a controlled - access 400 - series highway in the Canadian province of Ontario . It stretches 828 kilometres ( 514 mi ) from Windsor in the west to the Ontario -- Quebec border in the east . The part of Highway 401 that passes through Toronto is North America 's busiest highway , and one of the widest . Together with Quebec Autoroute 20 , it forms the road transportation backbone of the Quebec City -- Windsor Corridor , along which over half of Canada 's population resides and is also a Core Route in the National Highway System of Canada . The route is maintained by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( MTO ) and patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police . The speed limit is 100 km / h ( 62 mph ) throughout its length , with the only exceptions being the posted 80 km / h ( 50 mph ) limit westbound in Windsor and in most construction zones . By the end of 1952 , three individual highways were numbered `` Highway 401 '' : the partially completed Toronto Bypass between Weston Road and Highway 11 ( Yonge Street ) ; Highway 2A between West Hill and Newcastle ; and the Scenic Highway between Gananoque and Brockville , now known as the Thousand Islands Parkway . These three sections of highway were 11.8 , 54.7 and 41.2 km , ( 7.3 , 34.0 and 25.6 mi ) , respectively . In 1964 , the route became fully navigable from Windsor to the Ontario -- Quebec border . In 1965 it was given a second designation , the Macdonald -- Cartier Freeway , in honour of two Fathers of Confederation . At the end of 1968 , the Gananoque -- Brockville section was bypassed and the final intersection grade - separated near Kingston , making Highway 401 a freeway for its entire 817.9 - km length . On August 24 , 2007 , the portion of the highway between Glen Miller Road in Trenton and the Don Valley Parkway / Highway 404 Junction in Toronto was designated the Highway of Heroes , as the road is travelled by funeral convoys for fallen Canadian Forces personnel from CFB Trenton to the coroner 's office in Toronto . On September 27 , 2013 , the Highway of Heroes designation was extended west to Keele Street in Toronto , to coincide with the move of the coroner 's office to the new Forensic Services and Coroner 's Complex at the Humber River Hospital . In 2011 , construction began on a westward extension called the Right Honourable Herb Gray Parkway . This new route follows , but does not replace , former Highway 3 between the former end of the freeway and the E.C. Row Expressway , at which point it turns and parallels that route towards the site of the future Gordie Howe International Bridge . An 8 - kilometre ( 5 mi ) section of the parkway , east of the E.C. Row interchange , opened on June 28 , 2015 , with the remaining section completed and opened on November 21 . Elsewhere in Ontario , plans are under way to widen the remaining four - lane sections between Windsor and London to six lanes and to widen the route between Kitchener and Milton as well as through Oshawa . The expansive twelve - plus - lane collector -- express system will also be extended west through Mississauga to Milton and east through Ajax and Whitby . Contents ( hide ) 1 Route description 1.1 Southwestern Ontario 1.2 Greater Toronto Area 1.3 Eastern Ontario 1.4 Traffic 2 History 2.1 Predecessors 2.2 Assumption 2.3 Advantage I - 75 2.4 `` Carnage Alley '' 2.5 Highway of Heroes 2.6 Safety concerns and highway improvements 2.7 Rt . Hon . Herb Gray Parkway 3 Future 3.1 Southwestern Ontario 3.2 Central Southern Ontario 3.3 Eastern Ontario 4 Services 5 Exit list 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 Bibliography 9.1 Books 9.2 Maps 10 External links 10.1 Official websites 10.2 Photos and additional information 10.3 Videos Route description ( edit ) Highway 401 just east of Highway 400 in Toronto , one of the highway 's busiest segments Highway 401 at Weston Road has volumes of over 500,000 vehicles per day during the summer months , making it the busiest stretch of highway in the world . Highway 401 extends across Southwestern , Central and Eastern Ontario . In anticipation of the future expansion of the highway , the transportation ministry purchased a 91.4 - metre - wide ( 300 ft ) right - of - way along the entire length . Generally , the highway occupies only a portion of this allotment . It is one of the world 's busiest highways ; a 2016 analysis stated the annual average daily traffic ( AADT ) count between Weston Road and Highway 400 in Toronto was nearly 420,000 , while a second study estimates that over 500,000 vehicles travel that section on some days . This makes it North America 's busiest roadway , surpassing the Santa Monica Freeway in Los Angeles and I - 75 in Atlanta . The just - in - time auto parts delivery systems of the highly integrated automotive industry of Michigan and Ontario have contributed to the highway 's status as the world 's busiest truck route , carrying 60 percent of vehicular trade between Canada and the US . Highway 401 also features North America 's busiest multi-structure bridge at Hogg 's Hollow in Toronto . The four bridges , two for each direction with the collector and express lanes , carried an average of 373,700 vehicles daily in 2006 . The highway is one of the major backbones of a network in the Great Lakes region , connecting the populous Quebec City -- Windsor corridor with Michigan , New York and central Ontario 's cottage country . It is the principal connection between Toronto and Montreal , becoming Autoroute 20 at the Ontario -- Quebec border . Southwestern Ontario ( edit ) Highway 401 does not yet extend the last few kilometres to Detroit ; an extension to Brighton Beach ( at the Canada -- US border in Windsor ) was completed in November 2015 , after which the Gordie Howe International Bridge will extend Highway 401 across the Canada -- United States border through Delray to Interstate 75 in Michigan by 2019 . At present , Highway 401 begins as a six - lane freeway at the west end of the E.C. Row Expressway . At the Dougall Parkway , the highway turns east and exits Windsor . From here , Highway 401 mostly parallels the former route of Highway 98 from Windsor to Tilbury . Highway 401 widens to six lanes at Highway 402 in London . Southwestern Ontario is flat , primarily agricultural land , that takes advantage of the fertile clay soil deposited throughout the region . The main river through the region is the Thames River , which drains the second largest watershed in southern Ontario and largely influences the land use surrounding the highway ; It parallels the route to the north between Tilbury and Woodstock . Near Tilbury , Highway 401 loses its tall wall median barrier and narrows to four lanes , following lot lines laid between concession roads in a plan designed to limit damage to the sensitive agricultural lands through which the highway runs . Here the highway 's flat and straight route is notorious for leading to driver inattention . The section from Windsor to London ( especially west of Tilbury ) has become known for deadly car accidents and pile - ups , earning it the nickname Carnage Alley . As the highway approaches London , Highway 402 merges in , resulting in a six - lane cross-section . Within London , it intersects the city 's two municipal expressways , Highbury Avenue and the Veterans Memorial Parkway . The section between London and Woodstock generally parallels the former Highway 2 but lies on the south side of the Thames River . This area is not as flat but the highway is generally straight . This part of Highway 401 often experiences heavy snowsqualls in early winter , sometimes extending as far east as Toronto . To the south of Woodstock , Highway 401 curves northeast and encounters the western terminus of Highway 403 . The highway heads towards Kitchener and Cambridge , where it encounters Highway 8 and returns to its eastward orientation . East of Cambridge , the highway meanders towards Milton , passing through hills and rock cuts along the way . Greater Toronto area ( edit ) See also : Local - express lanes As Highway 401 approaches the Greater Toronto Area ( GTA ) , it descends through the ecologically protected Niagara Escarpment to the west of Milton . Upon entering the town , it enters the first urbanized section of the GTA , passing through two rural areas between there and Oshawa . The first rural gap is the western side of Toronto 's Greenbelt , a zone around Toronto protected from development . After this 10 km ( 6.2 mi ) gap , the highway interchanges with the Highway 407 Express Toll Route . Within the GTA , the highway passes several major shopping malls including Yorkdale Shopping Centre , Scarborough Town Centre and Pickering Town Centre . Highway 401 between Highway 410 and Highway 403 in Mississauga Highway 401 widens into a collector - express system as it approaches Hurontario Street in Mississauga , a concept inspired by the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago . The system divides each direction of travel into collector and express lanes , giving the highway a wide span and four carriageways . To avoid confusion between carriageways , blue signs are used for the collector lanes and green signs for the express lanes . Unlike the collector lanes , which provide access to every interchange , the express lanes only provide direct access to a select few interchanges . Access between the two is provided by transfers , which are strategically placed to prevent disruptions caused by closely spaced interchanges . The overall purpose of the collector - express system is to maximize traffic flow for both local and long - distance traffic . In addition , Highway 401 was equipped with a traffic camera system called COMPASS in early 1991 . Using closed - circuit television cameras , vehicle detection loops and LED changeable - message signs , COMPASS enables the MTO Traffic Operations Centre to obtain a real - time assessment of traffic conditions and alert drivers of collisions , congestion and construction . The system stretches from the Highway 403 / 410 interchange in Mississauga to Harwood Avenue in Ajax . `` The Basketweave '' , just east of the Highway 400 interchange , is a free - flowing crossover between the collector and express lanes . Two sets of collector - express systems exist in the GTA . The first set is 6.6 km ( 4.1 mi ) long and connects Highway 403 , Highway 410 and Highway 427 . This system primarily serves to accommodate and organize various traffic movements from the Highway 403 / 410 and Highway 427 interchanges along Highway 401 , replacing an earlier plan that would have run Highway 403 directly to Eglinton Avenue and the never - built Richview Expressway . East of the interchange with Renforth Drive , the collector lanes diverge to become the on - ramps to Highway 427 northbound and southbound . The second 43.7 km ( 27.2 mi ) system passes through the centre of Toronto and ends in Pickering to the east . The 5 km ( 3.1 mi ) gap between the two systems is a traffic bottleneck . However , the interchange can not accommodate future widening of Highway 401 . Highway 401 widens to 18 lanes south of Toronto Pearson International Airport . Progressing eastward , eight lanes are carried beneath the large spaghetti junction at Highway 427 . The highway curves northeast and follows a power transmission corridor to Highway 409 , which merges with the mainline and forms the collector lanes . It returns to its eastward route through Toronto , now carrying 12 -- 16 lanes of traffic on four carriageways . Highway 401 is often congested in this section , with an average of 442,900 vehicles passing between Weston Road and Highway 400 per day as of 2008 . In spite of this congestion , it is the primary commuting route in Toronto ; over 50 percent of vehicles bound for downtown Toronto use the highway . Different signs on Highway 401 's collector - express system are used to avoid confusion . The express lanes use green signs and the collector lanes use blue . These particular signs are at The Basketweave . Traffic cameras are mounted at every exit within Toronto and form one part of the COMPASS system . East of Highway 400 is The Basketweave , a criss - crossing transfer between the express and collectors carriageways , beyond which is Yorkdale Centre . Twelve lanes pass beneath a complicated interchange with Allen Road , built to serve the cancelled Spadina Expressway . Further east , the highway crosses Hogg 's Hollow , over the West Don River and Yonge Street in the centre of Toronto , the busiest multi-span bridge crossing in North America , surpassing the Brooklyn Bridge . It then crosses the East Don River and climbs toward the Don Valley Parkway , which provides access to downtown Toronto and Highway 404 , which provides access to the suburbs to the north . Progressing eastward , the highway continues through mostly residential areas in Scarborough , eventually reaching the Rouge Valley on the city 's eastern edge and crossing into Pickering . Highway 401 at the East Don River . Highway 401 in central Toronto ; the North York skyline is visible in the distance . Traffic congestion on Highway 401 east of Toronto . During rush hours and holidays , Highway 401 eastbound suffers from severe traffic jams as the collector - express system ends between Pickering and Ajax , causing a traffic bottleneck . West of Pickering , Highway 401 again meets former Highway 2 , which thereafter parallels it to the Ontario -- Quebec border . As the highway approaches Brock Road in Pickering , the collector and express lanes converge , narrowing the 14 - lane cross-section to 10 , divided only at the centre . It remains this width as it passes into Ajax , before narrowing to six lanes at Salem Road . Planned expansions east of Salem to improve flow leading into the Highway 412 and Lakeridge Road interchanges will see the highway widened to ten lanes as far as Brock Street in Whitby , where the existing interchange will be reconfigured . East of Ajax , the highway passes through the second 3.5 km ( 2.1 mi ) rural gap , and enters Whitby . The stretch of Highway 401 through Whitby and Oshawa features several structures completed during the initial construction of the highway in the 1940s . Several of these structures are to be demolished , either due to their age , or to prepare for the planned widening of Highway 401 through this area . A former Canadian National Railway overpass , which was fenced off but commonly used by pedestrians during Highway of Heroes repatriations , was demolished on the night of June 11 , 2011 . A second structure in Bowmanville was demolished during two overnight closures on July 9 and 16 . At Harmony Road , the suburban surroundings quickly transition to agricultural land . The highway curves around the south side of Bowmanville and travels towards Highway 35 and Highway 115 . Eastern Ontario ( edit ) East of Highway 416 , Highway 401 is a low - volume rural freeway with a grass median . From east of Highway 35 and Highway 115 to Cobourg , Highway 401 passes through a mix of agricultural land and forests , maintaining a straight course . Just east of Cobourg , the highway narrows to four lanes and the terrain becomes undulating , with the highway routed around hills and through valleys along the shores of Lake Ontario . At Trenton , the highway crosses the Trent Canal and returns to an agricultural setting . It then crosses the Moira River as it goes through Belleville before heading eastward to Kingston . The Kingston portion of the highway , originally named the Kingston - Bypass , was one of the first sections of the highway to be completed ; it is now mostly three lanes each way . East of Kingston , the highway continues through a predominantly agricultural area alongside the Saint Lawrence River to Gananoque , where it splits with the Thousand Islands Parkway , one of the original sections of the highway designated in 1952 . The current Highway 401 runs parallel to the parkway several kilometres inland from the river . The Canadian Shield , an ancient geological formation , appears through this heavily forested section of the highway . Highway 401 rejoins the Thousand Islands Parkway immediately southwest of Brockville , now heading northeast . The remainder of the highway runs parallel to the former Highway 2 along the shore of the Saint Lawrence River within the Saint Lawrence Valley . Northeast of Brockville is the interchange with Highway 416 , which heads north to Ottawa . At the Ontario -- Quebec border , Highway 401 becomes Autoroute 20 and continues to Montreal . Traffic ( edit ) The MTO publishes yearly traffic volume data for provincial highways , expressed as an average daily vehicle count over the span of a year ( AADT ) . The table below compares the AADT at several locations along Highway 401 using data from 1969 , 1988 , 2008 and 2016 . Traffic volumes Location Windsor London Woodstock Cambridge Mississauga Toronto Oshawa Belleville Kingston Brockville Cornwall Section Dougall Parkway -- Essex County Road 46 Highbury Avenue -- Veterans Memorial Parkway Oxford County Road 59 -- Highway 403 Highway 8 -- Highway 24 Mississauga Road -- Hurontario Street Weston Road -- Highway 400 Park Road -- Simcoe Street Highway 62 -- Highway 37 Frontenac County Road 38 -- Sydenham Road Highway 29 -- North Augusta Road Highway 138 -- McConnell Avenue Traffic volume ( AADT ) 1969 9,550 17,450 16,700 19,900 28,450 106,850 29,000 13,750 12,000 10,050 10,300 13,200 33,800 35,100 50,400 97,100 319,600 79,000 22,500 20,700 15,300 12,900 2008 16,700 64,500 67,100 125,600 177,300 442,900 120,700 43,500 45,400 29,100 18,400 2016 17,500 64,200 67,500 137,300 216,500 416,500 134,200 45,300 55,000 33,600 21,400 Average annual daily traffic counts of selected sections of Highway 401 over 47 years Lane count ( November 2015 ) Location EC Row Expressway to Essex County Road 42 Essex County Road 42 to Highway 402 Highway 402 to Highway 403 / 410 Highway 403 / 410 to Highway 427 Highway 427 to Highway 27 Highway 27 to Highway 409 Highway 409 to Brock Road Brock Road to Salem Road Salem Road to Burnham Street Burnham Street to Frontenac County Road 38 Frontenac County Road 38 to Montreal Street Montreal Street to ON -- QC border Lane count 6 lanes 4 lanes 6 lanes 18 - lane collector - express system 8 lanes 10 lanes 12 -- 16 - lane collector - express system 10 lanes 6 lanes 4 lanes 6 lanes 4 lanes Distance 55.7 km ( 34.6 mi ) 127.5 km ( 79.2 mi ) 161.3 km ( 100.2 mi ) 5.8 km ( 3.6 mi ) 0.8 km ( 0.50 mi ) 3.9 km ( 2.4 mi ) 43.3 km ( 26.9 mi ) 6.0 km ( 3.7 mi ) 68.3 km ( 42.4 mi ) 138.2 km ( 85.9 mi ) 8.2 km ( 5.1 mi ) 209.0 km ( 129.9 mi ) Number of through lanes on Highway 401 ( excludes ongoing or planned widening projects ) History ( edit ) Predecessors ( edit ) Main articles : Lakeshore Road , The Middle Road , Highway 2 , and Highway 2A Highway 401 colour - coded by the year each section opened to traffic Highway 401 's history predates its designation by over two decades . As automobile use in southern Ontario grew in the early 20th century , road design and construction advanced significantly . Following frequent erosion of Lake Shore Road , then macadamized , a concrete road known as the Toronto -- Hamilton Highway was proposed in January 1914 . Construction began on November 8 of that year , following the onset of World War I . The highway was designed to run along the lake shore , instead of Dundas Street to the north , because the numerous hills encountered along Dundas would have increased costs without improving accessibility . Middle Road , a dirt lane named because of its position between the two , was not considered since Lake Shore and Dundas were both overcrowded and in need of serious repairs . The road was formally opened on November 24 , 1917 , 5.5 m ( 18 ft ) wide and nearly 64 km ( 40 mi ) long . It was the first concrete road in Ontario , as well as one of the longest stretches of concrete road between two cities in the world . Over the next decade , vehicle usage increased substantially , and by 1920 Lakeshore Road was again congested , particularly during weekends . In response , the Department of Highways examined improving another road between Toronto and Hamilton . The road was to be more than twice the width of Lakeshore Road at 12 m ( 39 ft ) and would carry two lanes of traffic in either direction . Construction on what was then known as the Queen Street Extension west of Toronto began in early 1931 . Before the highway could be completed , Thomas McQuesten was appointed the new minister of the Department of Highways , with Robert Melville Smith as deputy minister , following the 1934 provincial elections . Smith , inspired by the German autobahns -- new `` dual - lane divided highways '' -- modified the design for Ontario roads , and McQuesten ordered the Middle Road be converted into this new form of highway . A 40 m ( 130 ft ) right - of - way was purchased along the Middle Road and construction began to convert the existing sections to a divided highway . Work also began on Canada 's first interchange at Highway 10 . The former Highway 2A near Highland Creek , aside from a resurfaced pavement , has not been altered since it opened in 1947 . Beginning in 1935 , McQuesten applied the concept of a dual - highway to several projects along Highway 2 , including along Kingston Road in Scarborough Township . When widening in Scarborough reached the Highland Creek ravine in 1936 , the Department of Highways began construction on a new bridge over the large valley , bypassing the former alignment around West Hill . From here the highway was constructed on a new alignment to Oshawa , avoiding construction on the congested Highway 2 . As grading and bridge construction neared completion on the new highway between West Hill and Oshawa in September 1939 , World War II broke out and gradually tax revenues were re-allocated from highway construction to the war effort . At the same time , between September 6 and 8 , 1939 , the Ontario Good Roads Association Conference was held at Bigwin Inn , near Huntsville , drawing highway engineers from across North America to discuss the new concept of `` Dual Highways . '' On the first day of the convention , McQuesten announced his vision of the freeway : an uninterrupted drive through the scenic regions of Ontario , discouraging local business and local traffic from accessing the highway except at infrequent controlled - access points . It was announced in the days thereafter this concept would be applied to a new `` trans - provincial expressway '' , running from Windsor to the Ontario -- Quebec border . The Highway 400 interchange in 1953 . Today , the former cloverleaf has been replaced with a multilevel interchange . Highway engineers evaluated factors such as grading , curve radius , and the narrow median used along the Middle Road -- which was inaugurated on August 23 , 1940 as the Queen Elizabeth Way ( QEW ) -- and began to plan the course of a new dual highway mostly parallel to Highway 2 , with precedence given to areas most hampered by congestion . Unlike the QEW , this highway would not be built along an existing road , but rather on a new right - of - way , avoiding the need to provide access to properties . Along with immense improvements to machinery and construction techniques over its six - year course , the war provided planners an opportunity to conduct a survey of 375,000 drivers , asking them about their preferred route to travel to their destination . Using this information , a course was plotted from Windsor to Quebec , bypassing all towns along the way . Highway 2S ( S for Scenic ) was the first completed section of new roadway . Built to connect with the Thousand Islands Bridge at Ivy Lea and opened as a gravel road in late 1941 or early 1942 , the road followed the shore of the Saint Lawrence River and connected with the western end of the twinned Highway 2 near Brockville . In addition , the highway between Highland Creek and Oshawa was opened as a gravel - surfaced road in May 1942 . Heavy traffic traverses Highway 401 within Toronto 24 hours a day . Following the war , construction resumed on roadways throughout Ontario . The expressway between Highland Creek and Oshawa was completed in December 1947 , while other sections languished . The Toronto -- Barrie Highway was the primary focus of the Department of Highways at the time , and the onset of the Korean War in 1950 stalled construction again . Despite the delays , highway minister George Doucett officially announced the plans for construction of the new trans - provincial expressway that year , with the Toronto to Oshawa expressway serving as a model for the design . Work on the most important link , the Toronto Bypass , began in 1951 , but it would not open with that name . Assumption ( edit ) In July 1952 ( possibly July 1 , the same day Highway 400 was numbered ) , the Highland Creek to Oshawa expressway and Highway 2S were designated Controlled - Access Highway No 401 , a move scorned by one critic because of the lack of thought into the numbered name . Construction was completed for several sections of the Toronto Bypass : between Highway 400 and Dufferin Street in August , west to Weston Road in September , east to Bathurst Street in October and finally to Yonge Street in December . Extensions east and west began in 1953 ; the eastern extension to Bayview Avenue opened in April 1955 , but the western extension was delayed by the damage caused by Hurricane Hazel on October 15 , 1954 , which nearly destroyed the new bridge over the Humber River . The reconstruction would take until July 8 , 1955 , and the highway was opened between Weston and Highway 27 in September 1955 . The widening of Highway 401 from four to twelve lanes in Toronto took nine years and was accomplished with at least four lanes open at all times . Shown here is the Highway 401 / Don Valley Parkway / Highway 404 interchange under construction in 1965 . The entire bypass , including the widening of Highway 27 into an expressway south of Highway 401 , was completed in August 1956 . Upon its opening , the bypass was described by one reporter as `` a motorist 's dream '' providing `` some of the most soothing scenery in the Metropolitan area '' . The reporter continued , with regard to the eastern section through Scarborough , that it `` winds smoothly through pastures across streams and rivers , and beside green thickets . It seems a long way from the big city . '' By 1959 however , the bypass was a lineup of cars , as 85,000 drivers crowded the roadway , designed to handle a maximum of 48,000 vehicles , on a daily basis . Motorists found the new road to be a convenient way of travelling across Toronto ; this convenience helped influence the suburban shift in the city and continues to be a driving force of urban sprawl today . Meanwhile , beyond Toronto , the highway was being built in a patchwork fashion , focusing on congested areas first . Construction west from Highway 27 began in late 1954 , as did the Kingston Bypass in Eastern Ontario . Work began to connect the latter with the Scenic Highway in 1955 . After the 1954 New York State Thruway opened from Buffalo to New York City , Michigan officials encouraged Ontario to bypass Highway 3 as the most direct path from Detroit to Buffalo . By 1956 , construction had begun on a segment between Highway 4 in London and Highway 2 in Woodstock , as well as on the section between Windsor and Tilbury . A plaque near Brockville commemorates the official completion of the highway . In 1958 , a section bypassing Morrisburg was opened to accommodate traffic displaced from a portion of Highway 2 through The Lost Villages of the Saint Lawrence Seaway . Highway 2 would ultimately be reopened on a new alignment which followed the CN rail right - of - way . By the end of 1960 , the Toronto section of the highway was extended both eastwards and westwards : first , to the east between Newcastle and Port Hope on June 30 , then later to the west between Highway 25 in Milton and Highway 8 south of Kitchener on November 17 . By mid-1961 , the section between Brighton and Marysville had opened . The gap to the east , from Highway 28 in Port Hope to Highway 30 in Brighton was opened on July 20 , 1961 . The gap between Woodstock and Kitchener was completed on November 9 , 1961 , while the gap between Tilbury and London was completed two lanes at a time ; the northbound lanes on October 22 , 1963 , the southbound on July 20 , 1965 . The gap between Marysville and Kingston was opened by 1962 . The final sections , from west of Cornwall to Lancaster , were opened between 1962 and 1964 ; two lanes opened to Lancaster on September 11 , 1962 , but the other two were not completed until July 31 , 1964 . The last segment , to the Ontario -- Quebec border , was opened on November 10 , 1964 . Finally , on October 11 , 1968 , the Thousand Islands Bypass opened . This final piece was commemorated with a plaque to signify the completion of Highway 401 . Throughout the Greater Toronto Area , Highway 401 uses a collector - express roadway configuration to manage high traffic volumes . Highway 401 's widest segment has 18 through lanes , located near Toronto Pearson International Airport In Toronto , engineers and surveyors were examining the four - lane bypass , while planners set about designing a way to handle the commuter highway . In 1963 , transportation minister Charles MacNaughton announced the widening of Highway 401 in Toronto from four to a minimum of 12 lanes between Islington Avenue and Markham Road . The design was taken from the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago , which was widened into a similar configuration around the same time . Construction began immediately . While the plan initially called for construction to end in 1967 , it continued for nearly a decade . At least four lanes were always open during the large reconstruction project , which included complex new interchanges at Highway 27 , Highway 400 , the planned Spadina Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway . The system was completed in 1972 , along with the Highway 27 ( renamed Highway 427 ) bypass between the QEW and Pearson Airport . Most of the interchanges in Toronto were reconstructed as partial cloverleafs and a continuous lighting system was installed . On January 11 , 1965 , at the dinner celebration of Sir John A. Macdonald 's 150th birthday , the Premier of Ontario John Robarts designated Highway 401 the Macdonald -- Cartier Freeway to honour Macdonald and George - Étienne Cartier , two of Canada 's Fathers of Confederation . Unlike other names later applied to the highway , the Macdonald -- Cartier Freeway designation covers the entire length of Highway 401 . Signs designating the freeway and shields with the letters ' M-C ' were installed , but these had been removed by 1997 . In 2003 , 38 years after Robarts ' naming of the highway , a Member of Provincial Parliament attempted to get the Macdonald - Cartier Freeway highway name enshrined into law ; the bill only passed first reading and was not enacted . Within years after opening , the four - lane Toronto Bypass was congested , prompting the Department of Highways to widen this section to 12 lanes beginning in 1963 . In the 1970s , Highway 401 was widened to six lanes in Durham , but otherwise saw little improvement . The 1980s saw more sections widened , as well as a new collector - express system between Highway 403 / 410 and Highway 427 completed in mid-1985 . Plans were made to extend the eastern system from Neilson Road to Brock Road in Pickering in the late 1980s , but took over a decade to reach fruition by 2000 . This was followed shortly thereafter by the widening of the highway through Ajax and a new interchange at Pickering Beach Road ( renamed Salem Road ) and Stevenson Road . The 1990s also saw the first step in widening the highway to six lanes from Toronto to London . A project in the mid-1990s brought the highway up to a minimum of six lanes between Highway 8 in Kitchener and Highway 35 / 115 in Newcastle . Other projects prepared sections for eventual widening . In 1993 , the stretch of Highway 401 eastbound near Milton and westbound near Whitby had chevrons painted in each lane in an effort to reduce tailgating , a concept borrowed from France and Britain . Signs advised motorists to keep at least two chevrons apart , in essence warning them not to follow too closely . Some of these chevrons remained intact in the westbound lanes in Whitby until 2012 , though the signs stating their use had been removed . Highway 401 at Meadowvale Road in 1989 , before being widened to a 14 - lane collector - express system Beginning in 1998 , several projects were initiated on Highway 401 within Toronto . These included the addition of one lane through the Highway 427 interchange in 2005 , as well as the resurfacing of the pavement through the city . Advantage I - 75 ( edit ) Between June 1990 and 1998 , Highway 401 and Interstate 75 were used for a pilot project named Advantage I - 75 to test the reliability and versatility of an automated tracking system for transport trucks . Termed MACS for Mainline Automated Clearance System , it would allow a truck to travel from Florida to Ontario without a second inspection . MACS was initially tested out at two truck inspection stations in Kentucky , with transponders installed in 220 trucks . Exact time , date , location , weight and axle data were logged as a truck approached an equipped station . Following initial tests , MACS was deployed at every inspection station along I - 75 from Miami to Detroit and along Highway 401 from Windsor to Belleville in 1994 . The project demonstrated the effectiveness of electronic systems in enforcing freight restrictions without delaying vehicles , while alleviating security fears such systems could be easily compromised . The concept has since been applied to many parts of Canada , including Highway 407 's electronic tolling system . `` Carnage Alley '' ( edit ) The 87 - vehicle pile up on September 3 , 1999 The section of Highway 401 between Windsor and London has often been referred to as Carnage Alley , in reference to the numerous crashes that have occurred throughout its history . The term became more commonplace following several deadly pileups during the 1990s . The narrow and open grass median was an ineffective obstacle in preventing cross-median collisions . The soft shoulders consisted of gravel with a sharp slope which was blamed for facilitating vehicle rollovers . The nature of that section of highway , described as largely a straight road with a featureless agricultural landscape , was said to make drivers feel less involved and lose focus on the road . In winter , the area between Woodstock and Chatham is also subject to sudden snow squalls from lake - effect snow . Several collisions have resulted from motorists deviating from their lane and losing control of their vehicles . Various other names , including The Killer Highway circulated for a time , but Carnage Alley became predominant following an 87 - vehicle pile - up on September 3 , 1999 ( the start of Labour Day weekend ) , the worst in Canadian history , that resulted in eight deaths and 45 injured individuals . Only a few days prior , then - Transportation Minister David Turnbull had deemed the highway `` pleasant '' to drive . On the morning of September 3 , the local weather station reported clear conditions due to a malfunction , while a thick layer of fog rolled onto the highway . Dozens of vehicles including several semi-trailers quickly crashed into each other shortly after 8 a.m. , one following another in the dense fog , and the accumulating wreckage caught traffic travelling in the opposite direction . Immediately following the crash , the MTO installed paved shoulders with rumble strips and funded additional police to patrol the highway , a move criticized as being insufficient . The route marker for the Highway of Heroes Beginning in 2004 , 46 km ( 29 mi ) of the highway was widened from four asphalt lanes to six concrete lanes , paved shoulders were added , a concrete Ontario Tall Wall median was installed , which was the solution the Canadian Automobile Association promoted in 1999 . Interchanges were improved and signage was upgraded as part of a five - phase project to improve Highway 401 from Highway 3 in Windsor to Essex County Road 42 ( formerly Highway 2 ) on the western edge of Tilbury . Highway of Heroes ( edit ) `` Highway of Heroes '' redirects here . For other uses , see List of highways named Highway of Heroes . On August 24 , 2007 , the MTO announced the stretch of Highway 401 between Glen Miller Road in Trenton and the intersection of the Don Valley Parkway and Highway 404 in Toronto would bear the additional name Highway of Heroes ( French : Autoroute des héros ) , in honour of Canadian soldiers who have died , though Highway 401 in its entirety remains designated as the Macdonald -- Cartier Freeway . This length of the highway is often travelled by a convoy of vehicles carrying a fallen soldier 's body , with his or her family , from CFB Trenton to the coroner 's office at the Centre for Forensic Sciences in Toronto . Since 2002 , when the first fallen Canadian soldiers were repatriated from Afghanistan , crowds have lined the overpasses to pay their respects as convoys pass . Canadians line overpasses along the Highway of Heroes to pay their respects to fallen soldiers . The origin of the name can be traced to an article in the Toronto Sun on June 23 , 2007 , by columnist Joe Warmington , in which he interviewed Northumberland photographer Pete Fisher . Fisher , along with Bob Jenkins , an emergency dispatcher , were responsible for organizing the first bridge salutes following the loss of four soldiers on April 18 , 2002 . Warmington described the gathering of crowds on overpasses to welcome fallen soldiers as a `` highway of heroes phenomena '' . This led a Cramahe Township volunteer firefighter to contact Fisher on July 10 about starting a petition , leading Fisher to publish an article which was posted to the Northumberland Today website . The online article eventually caught the attention of London resident Jay Forbes . Forbes began a petition , which received over 20,000 signatures before being brought to the Minister of Transportation on August 22 . Following the announcement on August 24 , the provincial government and MTO set out to design new signs . The signs were erected and unveiled on September 7 , and include a smaller reassurance marker ( shield ) , as well as a larger billboard version . Highway 401 was closed during a series of propane explosions in Toronto in 2008 , allowing for this rare photo of the 14 - lane highway occupied by a single vehicle . Safety concerns and Highway Improvements ( edit ) On August 10 , 2008 , following a series of explosions at a propane facility in Toronto , Highway 401 was closed between Highway 400 and Highway 404 as a precautionary measure , the largest closure of the highway in its history . The highway remained closed until 8 p.m. , though several exits near the blast remained closed thereafter . Between 2006 and 2008 , Highway 401 was widened from four to six lanes between Highway 402 and Wellington Road in London . This included replacing the original Wellington Road overpass . In Oshawa , exit 416 ( Park Road ) was replaced by a new interchange at exit 415 ( Stevenson Road ) . The contract , which began September 7 , 2005 , included the interchange and the resurfacing of 23.4 km ( 14.5 mi ) of the highway between Oshawa and Highway 35 / Highway 115 . The westbound ramps were opened in mid-September 2007 and the eastbound ramps in mid-2009 . The resurfacing was completed mid-2010 . Highway 401 was widened in 2008 between Highway 402 and Wellington Road in London In November 2010 , the widening of Highway 401 from four to six lanes between Woodstock and Kitchener was completed after many years of planning and construction . The project included the installation of a tall - wall median barrier , straightening curves and adding additional interchanges on the freeway , allowing it to be easily vacated in an emergency event . Rt . Hon . Herb Gray Parkway ( edit ) See also : Gordie Howe International Bridge In 2004 , a joint announcement by the federal government of the United States and Government of Canada confirmed a new border crossing would be constructed between Detroit and Windsor . The Detroit River International Crossing ( DRIC ) was formed as a bi-national committee to manage the project . The MTO took advantage of this opportunity to extend Highway 401 to the Canada -- US border and began an environmental impact assessment on the entire project in late 2005 . The City of Windsor also hired New York traffic consultant Sam Schwartz to design a parkway to the border . Schwartz 's proposal would eventually inspire the DRIC 's own design , but his route was not chosen , with the DRIC opting instead to take a northern route . On February 8 , 2008 , the MTO announced it had begun purchasing property south of the E.C. Row Expressway , upsetting many area residents who had purchased properties in the years prior . The new parkway ( pictured under construction in July 2013 ) was extended alongside former Highway 3 and the E.C. Row Expressway to the Detroit River , where it will cross the future Gordie Howe International Bridge to connect with I - 75 in Michigan . On March 3 , 2008 , the Michigan Department of Transportation and the MTO ( in partnership with Transport Canada , the Federal Highway Administration of the United States and the Detroit River International Crossing group ) completed a joint assessment on the soils along the Detroit River and determined they could indeed support the weight of a new bridge ; the stability of the underlying soil and clay and the impact of the nearby Windsor Salt Mine had caused concern for all parties involved in the project . Despite protest from area residents , as well as a dismissed lawsuit from Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun , it was announced on May 1 , 2008 , that a preferred route had been selected and the new route would be named the Windsor -- Essex Parkway . The new parkway is below - grade and has six through - lanes . It follows ( but does not replace ) Talbot Road and Huron Church Road from a new interchange at the former end of Highway 401 to the E. C. Row Expressway , where it runs concurrently westward for 2 km ( 1.2 mi ) . From there , it turns northwest and follows a new alignment to the border . Initial construction of a noise barrier from North Talbot Road to Howard Avenue began in March 2010 ; full construction began on August 19 , 2011 . On November 28 , 2012 , the Ministry of Transportation announced a Federal Order in Council was passed to change the name of the parkway to the Right Honourable Herb Gray Parkway , after the long - time Windsor MP . In early 2015 , it was announced the parkway would open to traffic between Highway 3 and Labelle Street ( near the E.C. Row Expressway ) in the spring ; an 8 - kilometre ( 5 mi ) section was opened to traffic on June 28 , extending Highway 401 as far west as the E.C. Row Expressway . It was the first new segment of the highway to be opened since the Thousand Islands Bypass in 1968 . The stretch to Ojibway Parkway was opened on November 21 , completing the parkway as far as the planned bridge approach and border plaza . Construction on projects related to the Gordie Howe International Bridge began in 2015 with an initial completion date in 2019 -- 20 . Construction of the bridge itself is expected to start in 2018 after a project contractor is selected in 2017 . An updated completion date would be in or after 2022 . Future ( edit ) In 2007 Minister of Transportation Donna Cansfield commented the MTO intends to widen all of the remaining four - lane sections to a minimum of six . With no dates set for construction or completion , this is a tentative announcement for the long - term future . Southwestern Ontario ( edit ) In Southwestern Ontario , several improvements are under way to provide six lanes on Highway 401 from Windsor to Toronto , in response to the Carnage Alley pile - up in 1999 . West of Essex County Road 42 on the west of Tilbury , the highway has been widened to six lanes with a concrete divider in anticipation of the Windsor -- Essex Parkway . Highway 401 between Highway 4 and Highway 402 is being reconstructed and now includes a new interchange with Wonderland Road . This photo was taken from the Westminster Drive overpass which was demolished on July 5 , 2014 , to prepare for the widening of the highway west towards Highway 4 . Within the London area , traffic volumes are expected to increase considerably , leading to poor highway conditions . The province has put in place an extensive plan to widen and reconstruct the London corridor between 2006 and 2021 . This included building a new interchange with Wonderland Road which opened in November 2015 to help improve access to Highway 401 westbound from the city 's southwest end and involved replacing the Westminster Drive overpass to allow the highway to be widened . The Westminster Drive overpass was demolished on July 5 , 2014 . This project will coincide with reconstructing the outdated cloverleaf interchange at Colonel Talbot Road and widening Highway 401 from four to six lanes between Highway 4 and Highway 402 . These projects start in 2017 . The MTO is also planning on widening Highway 401 from six to eight lanes through part of the London corridor . Long - term plans call for Highway 401 in the Waterloo region to be widened to eight to ten lanes as well . Work began on June 8 , 2015 to widen the highway from six to ten lanes between Highway 8 and Hespeler Road in Cambridge . The interchange between Highway 401 and Highway 8 ( King Street ) is to be reconstructed to make it free - flowing for all directions of travel . Central southern Ontario ( edit ) Highway 401 in the Greenbelt . The stretch of Highway 401 between Highway 8 and Highway 407 ETR is slated to be widened from six to ten lanes , including two HOV lanes . Work is underway to expand Highway 401 from six to twelve lanes from Hurontario Street to the Credit River by 2019 , consisting of a collector - express system with HOV lanes . Pictured is Highway 401 near Mavis Road in 2012 . In its 2007 plan for southern Ontario , the MTO announced long - term plans to create high - occupancy vehicle ( HOV ) lanes from Mississauga Road west to Milton ; by 2011 these plans had been expanded in scope to as far west as Hespeler Road in Cambridge . By 2014 construction was completed widening Highway 401 to a collector - express system from Highway 403 and Highway 410 west to Hurontario Street , a distance of 2.8 km ( 1.7 mi ) . Plans have been unveiled to lengthen the Mavis Road overpass and add ramps to the 401 / 403 / 410 interchange to prepare for the ' ultimate widening ' of Highway 401 between the Credit River and Highway 410 . Construction is underway between Hurontario Street and the Credit River to widen the highway to a collector -- express system . A successful construction consortium is expected to be announced in 2019 , for further widening from the Credit River to Regional Road 25 in Milton . This project will include a collector -- express system between the Credit River and James Snow Parkway in Milton , with the exception of the portion west of Winston Churchill Boulevard through the Highway 407 interchange , which -- along with the portion from James Snow Parkway to Regional Road 25 -- will be widened to 10 lanes . All portions of this expansion will include an HOV lane . Within Toronto , some projects have been completed during overnight construction projects , including the widening and rehabilitation of the Hogg 's Hollow bridge , the replacement of the original gantries throughout the collector - express system , and reconstructing the Highway 401 / 400 interchange . Expansion plans in Durham include the construction of two new freeways north from Highway 401 . Highway 412 is directly east of Lakeridge Road , while Highway 418 will lie to the east of Courtice Road . Alongside the extension of Highway 407 , Highway 401 is being widened to 12 lanes , forming an extension to the current collector - express system , from its end at Brock Road in Pickering to Brock Street in Whitby . In addition , a partial interchange has been constructed at Lakeridge Road , with westbound entrance and eastbound exit ramps . In order to accommodate the ramps for Highway 412 , the highway has been shifted north at the interchange under construction . Long - term plans also call for HOV lanes to run from Brock Road to Harmony Road , though no planning has commenced . However , there has been an environmental assessment on widening highway 401 , extending the collector - express system east towards Salem Road in Ajax and to 10 lanes from Brock Street in Whitby , to Courtice Road in the Clarington township . The assessment was completed in March 2015 . All the original World War II era overpasses dating back in the 1940s and 1950s built between Whitby and Oshawa will gradually be replaced with new overpasses as part of modern highway safety standards and to allow highway widening sometime in the future . Eastern Ontario ( edit ) East of Durham , the MTO is planning to widen parts of Highway 401 to six lanes . Preliminary work includes the widening of the bridge over the Trent River in Trenton , as well as the realignment of some roads alongside the highway . By 2012 , the highway was widened to six lanes for 9 km ( 5.6 mi ) through Kingston between exits 611 and 619 . Construction began in 2014 to expand the highway to six lanes through Cobourg . This was completed in the summer of 2017 . Services ( edit ) ONroute Cambridge South service station Highway 401 features 19 service centres controlled by the MTO . These service centres were announced in 1961 following public outcry over the lack of rest stops . They provide a place to park , rest , eat and refuel 24 hours a day . The centres were originally leased to and operated by several major gasoline distributors ; however , those companies have chosen not to renew their leases as the terms end . In response , the MTO put the operation of the full network of service centres out for tender , resulting in a 50 - year lease with Host Kilmer Service Centres , a joint venture between hospitality company HMSHost ( a subsidiary of Autogrill ) and Larry Tanenbaum 's investment company Kilmer van Nostrand , which operates the rest areas under the ONroute brand . Seventeen of the centres along Highway 401 have been reconstructed entirely . Two centres rebuilt in the late 1990s , specifically Newcastle and Ingersoll , will not be redeveloped at this time . Work on 15 of the 17 service centres to be reconstructed began in late 2009 or early 2010 . The new service centres , opening in phases beginning in July 2010 , feature a Canadian Tire gas station , an HMSHost - operated convenience store known as `` The Market '' , as well as fast food brands such as Tim Hortons , A&W , Pizza Pizza , Extreme Pita , KFC , Taco Bell , Big Smoke Burger and Burger King . Service centres along Highway 401 Location Direction ( s ) Nearby exits Status Tilbury North Tilbury South Westbound Eastbound 56 , 63 Reopened as of October 1 , 2010 West Lorne Dutton Westbound Eastbound 137 , 149 Reopened as of October 1 , 2010 Ingersoll Westbound 222 , 230 Will not be redeveloped at this time . Leased by Imperial Oil . Woodstock Eastbound 222 , 230 Closed for reconstruction on March 31 , 2010 ; reopened July 2011 Cambridge North Cambridge South Westbound Eastbound 286 , 295 Closed for reconstruction on September 7 , 2011 ; Cambridge North reopened June 25 , 2013 ; Cambridge South reopened July 23 , 2013 . Mississauga Eastbound 333 , 336 Permanently closed as of September 30 , 2006 Newcastle Westbound 440 , 448 Will not be redeveloped at this time . Leased by Imperial Oil . Port Hope Eastbound 448 , 456 Reopened by June 2011 Trenton North Westbound 509 , 522 Reopened as of October 1 , 2010 Trenton South Eastbound Reopened March 2011 Camden East Westbound 582 , 593 Closed for reconstruction March 31 , 2010 ; reopened June 2011 Odessa Eastbound 599 , 611 Open during 2010 -- 11 reconstruction ( while a new structure was built directly west of a now - demolished original facility on same property ) . New facility opened June 2011 Mallorytown North Westbound 675 Reopened February 1 , 2011 Mallorytown South Eastbound 685 Reopened June 28 , 2012 . Morrisburg Eastbound 750 , 758 Reopened as of October 1 , 2010 Ingleside Westbound 758 , 770 Reopened April 2011 Bainsville Westbound 825 Reopened as of October 1 , 2010 Closed Exit List ( edit ) The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 401 , as noted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario . Division Location km mi Exit Destinations Notes Detroit River Canada -- US border 0.0 0.0 To I - 75 Via future connector in Michigan Planned Gordie Howe International Bridge Windsor Ojibway Parkway E.C. Row Expressway Westbound exit and eastbound entrance ; western terminus E.C. Row Expressway Eastbound exit and westbound entrance 4.7 2.9 5 Highway 3 ( Huron Church Road ) -- Ambassador Bridge to US , Detroit I - 75 -- Flint , Toledo Westbound exit and eastbound entrance ; former western terminus from June 28 to November 21 , 2015 5.8 3.6 6 Cabana Road County Road 6 ( Todd Lane ) -- LaSalle Eastbound exit and eastbound entrance 7.1 4.4 7 Highway 3 ( Talbot Road ) -- LaSalle Westbound exit to Highway 3 , eastbound exit to Highway 3 , eastbound entrance 9.1 5.7 9 Highway 3 ( Highway 401 ) -- Leamington , Windsor Westbound entrance 10.1 6.3 10 Highway 3 -- Leamington , Windsor County Road 9 ( Howard Ave ) -- Amherstburg Former western terminus from 1968 to June 28 , 2015 12.6 7.8 13 Dougall Parkway -- Detroit -- Windsor Tunnel to US -- Detroit Westbound exit and eastbound entrance ; formerly Highway 3B / Highway 401A Essex Tecumseh 13.4 8.3 14 County Road 46 ( to / vers Walker Road ) -- Windsor , Essex Formerly Highway 98 , access to Windsor International Airport 20.4 12.7 21 County Road 19 ( Manning Road ) -- Tecumseh Lakeshore 27.5 17.1 28 County Road 25 ( Puce Road ) -- Puce 33.7 20.9 34 County Road 27 ( Belle River Road ) -- Woodslee , Belle River 40.0 24.9 40 County Road 31 ( French Line Road ) -- St. Joachim 47.3 29.4 48 Highway 77 south -- Leamington County Road 35 north ( Comber Road ) -- Stoney Point Northern terminus of Highway 77 55.7 34.6 56 County Road 42 -- Tilbury Formerly Highway 2 Chatham - Kent 62.8 39.0 63 County Road 2 ( Queen 's Line ) Formerly Highway 2 80.9 50.3 81 County Road 27 ( Bloomfield Road ) 89.3 55.5 90 Highway 40 north County Road 11 south ( Communication Road ) -- Blenheim Southern terminus of Highway 40 101.0 62.8 101 County Road 15 ( Kent Bridge Road ) -- Dresden , Ridgetown 108.3 67.3 109 County Road 17 / County Road 21 ( Victoria Road ) -- Thamesville , Ridgetown Formerly Highway 21 116.2 72.2 117 County Road 20 ( Orford Road ) -- Highgate Elgin West Elgin 129.2 80.3 129 County Road 103 ( Furnival Road ) -- Wardsville , Rodney 137.3 85.3 137 County Road 76 ( Graham Road ) -- West Lorne Formerly Highway 76 Dutton / Dunwich 148.5 92.3 149 County Road 8 ( Currie Road ) -- Dutton 157.4 97.8 157 County Road 14 ( Iona Road ) -- Melbourne , Iona Southwold 164.1 102.0 164 County Road 20 ( Union Road ) -- Port Stanley , Shedden London 176.7 109.8 177 Highway 4 ( Colonel Talbot Road ) -- St. Thomas Signed as exits 177A ( south ) and 177B ( north ) ; reconstruction begun in 2015 , turning the cloverleaf interchange into a parclo 180 Wonderland Road Construction begun in early 2014 , opened November 2015 . 183.2 113.8 183 Highway 402 west -- Sarnia Westbound exit and eastbound entrance 185.9 115.5 186 Wellington Road 186.8 116.1 187 Exeter Road Westbound exit , formerly Highway 135 west 189.1 117.5 189 Highbury Avenue -- St. Thomas Formerly Highway 126 193.6 120.3 194 Veterans Memorial Parkway Formerly Highway 100 ; reconstruction and expansion from a three - way to four - way interchange begun in 2015 Middlesex Thames Centre 195.5 121.5 195 County Road 74 ( Westchester Bourne ) -- Nilestown , Belmont Formerly Highway 74 199.3 123.8 199 County Road 32 ( Dorchester Road ) -- Dorchester 203.0 126.1 203 County Road 73 ( Elgin Road ) -- Aylmer Formerly Highway 73 208.5 129.6 208 County Road 30 ( Putnam Road ) -- Putnam , Avon Oxford South - West Oxford , Ingersoll 216.0 134.2 216 County Road 10 ( Culloden Road ) 218.5 135.8 218 Highway 19 south County Road 119 north ( Plank Line ) -- Tillsonburg South - West Oxford 222.2 138.1 222 County Road 6 -- Stratford , Embro 229.8 142.8 230 County Road 12 ( Sweaburg Road / Mill Street ) -- Sweaburg Woodstock 231.9 144.1 232 County Road 59 -- Delhi Formerly Highway 59 235.3 146.2 235 Highway 403 east -- Hamilton , Niagara Falls , Brantford Eastbound exit and westbound entrance Norwich 236.3 146.8 236 County Road 15 ( Towerline Road ) -- Woodstock 237.9 147.8 238 County Road 2 -- Paris , Woodstock Formerly Highway 2 Woodstock Blandford - Blenheim 250.1 155.4 250 County Road 29 ( Drumbo Road ) -- Innerkip , Drumbo Waterloo North Dumfries 267.9 166.5 268 Regional Road 97 ( Cedar Creek Road ) -- Cambridge , Plattsville , Ayr Signed as exits 268A ( east ) and 268B ( west ) eastbound ; formerly Highway 97 Kitchener , Cambridge 275.0 170.9 275 Regional Road 28 ( Homer Watson Boulevard / Fountain Street ) 277.9 172.7 278 Highway 8 north -- Kitchener , Waterloo Regional Road 8 south -- Cambridge Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only to Highway 8 ; signed as exit 278A ( east ) and 278B ( west ) eastbound Cambridge 282.5 175.5 282 Regional Road 24 ( Hespeler Road ) to Highway 24 south -- Brantford 283.8 176.3 284 Regional Road 36 south ( Franklin Boulevard ) Eastbound to southbound exit and northbound to westbound entrance 286.5 178.0 286 Regional Road 33 ( Townline Road ) County Road 33 ( Townline Road ) Wellington Puslinch 295.7 183.7 295 Highway 6 north -- Guelph Western end of Highway 6 concurrency 300.1 186.5 299 Highway 6 south -- Hamilton County Road 46 ( Brock Road ) -- Guelph , Hamilton Eastern end of Highway 6 concurrency Halton Milton 311.9 193.8 312 Regional Road 1 ( Guelph Line ) -- Burlington , Campbellville 320.1 198.9 320 Regional Road 25 -- Acton , Milton Formerly Highway 25 ; GO Transit bus stop on eastbound ramp 323.8 201.2 324 Regional Road 4 ( James Snow Parkway ) 328.0 203.8 328 Regional Road 3 ( Trafalgar Road ) -- Oakville , Halton Hills , Georgetown 330.4 205.3 330 Highway 407 Toll highway ; signed as exits 330A ( west ) and 330B ( east ) eastbound ; no access from westbound Highway 407 to eastbound Highway 401 or westbound Highway 401 to eastbound Highway 407 Peel Mississauga 332.7 206.7 333 Winston Churchill Boulevard Winston Churchill Boulevard is officially designated Peel Regional Road 19 north of Highway 401 , although the number is not posted on exit signage 336.1 208.8 336 Regional Road 1 ( Mississauga Road / Erin Mills Parkway ) Although signed as both the exit for Mississauga Road and Erin Mills Parkway , Erin Mills Parkway merges with Mississauga Road 1.7 km ( 1.1 mi ) to the south and does not officially reach Highway 401 339.6 211.0 340 Mavis Road Exit opened in 1999 . Western end of collector -- express system 341.7 212.3 342 Hurontario Street Formerly Highway 10 ; westbound exit from both collectors and express Whittle Road Eastbound exit only 344.5 214.1 344 Highway 403 / Highway 410 -- Hamilton , Brampton No access from eastbound Highway 401 to westbound Highway 403 or eastbound Highway 403 to westbound Highway 401 ; construction underway to convert this to a full interchange , to be complete by 2018 346.0 215.0 346 Regional Road 4 ( Dixie Road ) Eastern end of collector -- express system 350.3 -- 351.1 217.7 -- 218.2 348 Highway 427 / Renforth Drive -- Toronto Pearson International Airport , Downtown Toronto Exit 348 ( eastbound exit and westbound entrance ) , exit 350 ( eastbound exit and westbound entrance ) , exit 351 ( westbound exit and eastbound entrance ) and exit 352 ( westbound exit and eastbound entrance ) Toronto 350 Eglinton Avenue 351 Carlingview Drive 352 Highway 427 south 353.5 219.7 354 Dixon Road / Martin Grove Road No access from southbound Martin Grove to eastbound Highway 401 ; No access from eastbound Highway 401 to Martin Grove 355.4 220.8 355 Highway 409 -- Toronto Airport Belfield Road Westbound exit and eastbound entrance Western end of collector -- express system 356.0 221.2 356 Islington Avenue 357.4 222.1 357 Weston Road 358.9 223.0 359 Highway 400 north ( south to Black Creek Drive ) -- Barrie Eastbound express access to Highway 400 360.5 224.0 360 Jane Street Ramps removed ; access to Jane Street via Black Creek Drive 362.0 224.9 362 Keele Street 364.0 226.2 364 Dufferin Street , Yorkdale Road Eastbound exit and westbound entrance 364.8 226.7 365 Allen Road , Yorkdale Road Westbound exit is a left - hand exit from collector lanes , and right - hand exit from express lanes ; westbound access to Dufferin Street via Yorkdale Road 366.2 227.5 366 Bathurst Street Westbound exit and eastbound entrance ( access only from northbound Bathurst Street ) ; westbound entrance and eastbound exit ramps removed ; westbound exits to Wilson Avenue , about 200m west of Bathurst Street 367.3 228.2 367 Avenue Road Formerly Highway 11A 368 229 -- Yonge Boulevard Access removed in 1964 due to core - collector system widening 369.0 229.3 369 Yonge Street Formerly Highway 11 371.0 230.5 371 Bayview Avenue 372.9 231.7 373 Leslie Street 374.9 233.0 375 Highway 404 north -- Markham , Newmarket Don Valley Parkway -- Downtown Toronto From eastbound Highway 401 , access to Sheppard Avenue via northbound Highway 404 from 401 collector lanes only 376.3 233.8 376 Victoria Park Avenue 377.6 234.6 378 Warden Avenue 379.2 235.6 379 Kennedy Road 380.8 236.6 380 Brimley Road south , Progress Avenue Eastbound exit and westbound entrance from northbound Brimley Road ; exit opened February 18 , 1988 381.6 237.1 381 McCowan Road 383.2 238.1 383 Markham Road Formerly Highway 48 Progress Avenue Eastbound entrance only 385.0 239.2 385 Neilson Road Exit opened in 1983 386.5 240.2 387 Morningside Avenue 389.0 241.7 389 Meadowvale Road 390.3 242.5 390 Highway 2 / Highway 2A ( Kingston Road , Sheppard Avenue ( westbound ) , Port Union Road ( eastbound ) ) Signed as exit 392 westbound Durham Pickering 394.0 244.8 394 Regional Road 38 ( Whites Road ) Exit opened in 1983 396.6 246.4 397 Regional Road 29 ( Liverpool Road ) Westbound exit and entrance 398.3 247.5 399 Regional Road 1 ( Brock Road ) Exit opened September 11 , 1974 , replacing the full - access interchange at Liverpool Road Eastern end of collector -- express system Ajax 400.3 248.7 400 Church Street Removed , exit replaced with Westney Road interchange ( exit 401 ) in 1986 401.3 249.4 401 Regional Road 31 ( Westney Road ) Replaced exit 400 ( Church Street ) in 1986 as part of Go Transit expansion east of Pickering 402.5 250.1 403 Regional Road 44 ( Harwood Avenue ) Removed , exit replaced with Salem Road interchange ( exit 404 ) in 2003 404.3 251.2 404 Regional Road 41 ( Salem Road ) Replaced exit 403 ( Harwood Avenue ) in December 2003 Whitby / Ajax 406.9 252.8 406 Regional Road 23 ( Lakeridge Road ) Westbound entry and eastbound exit ; construction begun in 2013 , completed Spring 2016 Whitby 407.7 253.3 408 Highway 412 Toll highway ; construction begun in 2013 , completed June 20 , 2016 409.6 254.5 410 Brock Street Formerly Highway 12 , had a Durham Regional Highway 12 designation , but was removed , as the regional section runs from Rossland Road to south of Highway 7 412.1 256.1 412 Regional Road 26 ( Thickson Road ) Oshawa 415.2 258.0 415 Regional Road 53 ( Stevenson Road ) Replaced exit 416 ( Park Road ) in 2009 415.8 258.4 416 Regional Road 54 ( Park Road ) Removed , exit replaced with nearby Stevenson Road interchange ( exit 415 ) in 2009 417.6 259.5 417 Regional Road 2 ( Simcoe Street ) Westbound exit via exit 418 418.5 260.0 418 Regional Road 16 ( Ritson Road ) 419.4 260.6 419 Regional Road 22 / Regional Road 33 ( Bloor Street / Harmony Road ) Access to Regional Road 56 / Farewell Street Clarington 425.4 264.3 425 Regional Road 34 ( Courtice Road ) -- Courtice 426.5 265.0 426 Highway 418 Construction begun in 2016 , to be completed by 2020 428.4 266.2 428 Holt Road ( Darlington Nuclear Generating Station ) Formerly eastbound exit and westbound entrance ; converted into a full interchange , opened June 2016 431.3 268.0 431 Regional Road 57 ( Waverley Road ) -- Bowmanville 432.4 268.7 432 Regional Road 14 ( Liberty Street ) -- Bowmanville , Port Darlington 435.2 270.4 435 Bennett Road 436.3 271.1 436 Highway 35 / Highway 115 -- Peterborough , Orono , Lindsay 440.1 273.5 440 Regional Road 17 ( Mill Street ) -- Newcastle , Bond Head 448.1 278.4 448 Regional Road 18 ( Newtonville Road ) -- Newtonville Northumberland Port Hope 456.6 283.7 456 Wesleyville Road 461.4 286.7 461 County Road 2 ( Toronto Street ) -- Welcome Formerly Highway 2 464.8 288.8 464 County Road 28 ( Ontario Street ) -- Peterborough , Bewdley Formerly Highway 28 Cobourg , Hamilton 472.6 293.7 472 County Road 18 ( Burnham Street ) -- Gores Landing 474.5 294.8 474 County Road 45 ( Baltimore Road ) -- Norwood , Baltimore Formerly Highway 45 Alnwick / Haldimand 487.0 302.6 487 County Road 23 ( Lyle Street ) -- Centreton , Grafton Cramahe 497.2 308.9 497 County Road 25 ( Percy Street / Big Apple Drive ) -- Colborne , Castleton Brighton 509.7 316.7 509 County Road 30 -- Brighton , Campbellford Formerly Highway 30 Hastings Quinte West 520.4 323.4 522 County Road 40 ( Wooler Road ) -- Trenton 525.4 326.5 525 County Road 33 -- Trenton , Frankford , Batawa Formerly Highway 33 526.5 327.2 526 County Road 4 ( Glen Miller Road ) -- Trenton , CFB Trenton 538.5 334.6 538 County Road 1 ( Wallbridge - Loyalist Road ) -- Stirling Belleville 542.7 337.2 543 Highway 62 -- Marmora , Madoc to County Road 14 Signed as exits 543A ( south ) and 543B ( north ) ; formerly Highway 14 543.2 337.5 544 Highway 37 -- Tweed Tyendinaga 555.7 345.3 556 County Road 7 ( Shannonville Road ) -- Shannonville , Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory 566.4 351.9 566 Highway 49 County Road 15 ( Marysville Road ) -- Picton , Deseronto , Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory 570.5 354.5 570 County Road 10 ( Deseronto Road ) -- Deseronto Lennox and Addington Greater Napanee 578.8 359.6 579 County Road 41 -- Napanee , Kaladar Formerly Highway 41 582.1 361.7 582 County Road 5 ( Palace Road ) -- Napanee , Newburgh Loyalist 593.4 368.7 593 County Road 4 ( Camden East Road ) -- Millhaven , Camden East Formerly Highway 133 598.8 372.1 599 County Road 6 ( Wilton Road ) -- Yarker , Amherstview , Odessa Kingston 610.8 379.5 611 County Road 38 -- Harrowsmith , Sharbot Lake Formerly Highway 38 613.0 380.9 613 County Road 9 ( Sydenham Road ) , Sydenham 615.3 382.3 615 Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard 617.0 383.4 617 County Road 10 ( Division Street ) -- Westport 619.0 384.6 619 County Road 11 ( Montreal Street ) -- Battersea 623.0 387.1 623 Highway 15 -- Smiths Falls , Ottawa 631.9 392.6 632 County Road 16 ( Joyceville Road ) -- Joyceville Leeds and Grenville Gananoque , Leeds and the Thousand Islands 645.1 400.8 645 County Road 32 -- Crosby Formerly Highway 32 646.7 401.8 647 Thousand Islands Parkway -- Ivy Lea , Rockport Eastbound exit and westbound entrance Leeds and the Thousand Islands 647.9 402.6 648 Highway 2 west -- Gananoque County Road 2 east Eastbound via exit 647 658.8 409.4 659 County Road 3 ( Reynolds Road ) -- Ivy Lea , Lansdowne , Rockport 661.0 410.7 661 Highway 137 -- Hill Island , Thousand Islands Bridge to U.S. and I - 81 -- Watertown Front of Yonge 675.5 419.7 675 County Road 5 ( Mallorytown Road ) -- Mallorytown , Athens , Rockport Elizabethtown - Kitley 684.7 425.5 685 Thousand Islands Parkway Westbound exit and eastbound entrance 686.7 426.7 687 County Road 2 -- Brockville Formerly Highway 2 Brockville 696.2 432.6 696 County Road 29 -- Brockville , Smiths Falls Formerly Highway 29 / Highway 42 698.0 433.7 698 County Road 6 ( North Augusta Road ) -- Brockville , North Augusta Augusta 704.8 437.9 705 County Road 15 ( Maitland Road ) -- Merrickville , Maitland Prescott 716.2 445.0 716 County Road 18 ( Edward Street ) -- Prescott , Domville Edwardsburgh / Cardinal 720.1 447.4 721A Highway 416 north -- Ottawa , Kemptville Eastbound exit and westbound entrance ; signed as exit 721 eastbound 721.2 448.1 721B Highway 16 -- Kemptville , Johnstown , Ogdensburg - Prescott International Bridge to U.S. and NY 812 -- Ogdensburg Signed as exit 721 westbound ; signed as leading to New York State Route 37 730.0 453.6 730 County Road 22 ( Shanly Road ) -- Cardinal Stormont , Dundas and Glengarry South Dundas 737.8 458.4 738 County Road 1 ( Carman Road ) -- Iroquois 750.2 466.2 750 County Road 31 -- Ottawa , Morrisburg , Winchester Formerly Highway 31 758.2 471.1 758 Upper Canada Road South Stormont 769.5 478.1 770 County Road 14 ( Dickinson Drive ) -- Ingleside 777.8 483.3 778 County Road 35 ( Moulinette Road ) -- Long Sault 786.4 488.6 786 County Road 33 ( Power Dam Drive ) Eastbound exit and westbound entrance Cornwall 789.5 490.6 789 Highway 138 ( Brookdale Avenue ) -- Ottawa , Hawkesbury , Three Nations Crossing to Massena , New York 791.8 492.0 792 McConnell Avenue 796.1 494.7 796 County Road 44 ( Boundary Road ) South Glengarry 804.6 500.0 804 County Road 27 ( Summerstown Road ) -- Summerstown 813.8 505.7 814 County Road 2 / County Road 34 -- Lancaster , Alexandria , Hawkesbury Formerly Highway 2 south / Highway 34 north 825.4 512.9 825 County Road 23 ( 4th Line Road , Curry Hill Road ) Ontario -- Quebec border 828.0 514.5 Highway 401 ends at border A-20 continues east towards Montreal 1.000 mi = 1.609 km ; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Closed / former Incomplete access Tolled Unopened See also ( edit ) Canada Roads portal Ontario portal Southern Ontario Transportation Heavy Rescue : 401 - a documentary / reality series on Discovery Channel showcasing the operations of heavy rescue and recovery towing businesses along the highway and nearby roads . Notes ( edit ) Jump up ^ The Department of Highways Fiscal Report for the year ending March 31 , 1952 , claims `` Controlled Access Highways nos. 400 and 401 were signed '' . However , all other sources claim July . References ( edit ) ^ Jump up to : Ministry of Transportation and Communications ( 1972 ) . pp. 8 -- 9 . ^ Jump up to : Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( 2008 ) . `` Annual Average Daily Traffic ( AADT ) counts '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on June 28 , 2011 . Retrieved October 1 , 2013 . Jump up ^ `` Appendix 3 '' . 2009 -- 2010 OBW / ORA Handbook for Students Coming to Ontario from Baden - Württemberg or Rhône - Alpes . Ontario Program Office , OBW / ORA Student Exchange Programs , York University . August 7 , 2009 . p. 26 . 401 The Four - Oh - One : highway between Windsor and the Ontario / Quebec border Jump up ^ Allen , Paddy ( July 11 , 2011 ) . `` Carmageddon : the world 's busiest roads '' . The Guardian . Guardian News & Media Ltd . Archived from the original on July 15 , 2014 . Retrieved July 11 , 2014 . ^ Jump up to : Maier , Hanna ( October 9 , 2007 ) . `` Chapter 2 '' . Long - Life Concrete Pavements in Europe and Canada ( Report ) . Federal Highway Administration . Archived from the original on May 27 , 2010 . Retrieved May 1 , 2010 . The key high - volume highways in Ontario are the 400 - series highways in the southern part of the province . The most important of these is the 401 , the busiest highway in North America , with average annual daily traffic ( AADT ) of more than 425,000 vehicles in 2004 and daily traffic sometimes exceeding 500,000 vehicles . ^ Jump up to : Canadian NewsWire ( August 6 , 2002 ) . Ontario government investing $401 million to upgrade Highway 401 ( Report ) . Ministry of Transportation of Ontario . Highway 401 is one of the busiest highways in the world and represents a vital link in Ontario 's transportation infrastructure , carrying more than 400,000 vehicles per day through Toronto . ^ Jump up to : Thün , Geoffrey ; Velikov , Kathy . `` The Post-Carbon Highway '' . Alphabet City . Archived from the original on July 5 , 2010 . Retrieved January 2 , 2012 . It is North America 's busiest highway , and one of the busiest in the world . The section of Highway 401 that cuts across the northern part of Toronto has been expanded to eighteen lanes , and typically carries 420,000 vehicles a day , rising to 500,000 at peak times , as compared to 380,000 on the I - 405 in Los Angeles or 350,000 on the I - 75 in Atlanta ( Gray ) . ^ Jump up to : Shragge pp. 93 -- 94 . Jump up ^ `` Ontario Provincial Highways Traffic Volumes On Demand '' . www.raqsa.mto.gov.on.ca . Archived from the original on December 17 , 2017 . Retrieved January 6 , 2018 . ^ Jump up to : `` Highway 401 : The story '' . John G. Shragge. 2007 . Archived from the original on March 28 , 2008 . Retrieved February 12 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : `` Engineering Feats : 401 is the busiest highway in North America '' . The Midland Free Press . Sun Media . 2008 . Archived from the original on July 14 , 2011 . Retrieved March 5 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation ( 2003 ) . ^ Jump up to : Google ( March 5 , 2010 ) . `` Driving directions from Toronto , ON to Montreal , QC '' ( Map ) . Google Maps . Google . Retrieved March 5 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation ( 2003 ) , section T18 -- 19 . ^ Jump up to : Detroit River International Crossing Study team ( May 1 , 2008 ) . `` The DRIC Announces Preferred Access Road '' ( Press release ) . URS Corporation . Archived from the original on December 2 , 2010 . Retrieved February 26 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Detroit River International Crossing Study team ( July 2009 ) . `` Initial Construction '' ( PDF ) . URS Corporation . Archived ( PDF ) from the original on March 31 , 2010 . Retrieved February 26 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : Ontario Back Road Atlas ( Map ) . Cartography by MapArt . Peter Heiler Ltd. 2010 . ISBN 978 - 1 - 55198 - 226 - 7 . Jump up ^ Queen 's Printer for Ontario ( 1969 ) . Ontario Official Road Map ( Map ) . Government of Ontario . Jump up ^ `` Location and Geography of Sarnia -- Lambton '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on July 1 , 2011 . Retrieved May 7 , 2011 . Jump up ^ Planning Department . `` Land Use History '' . City of Windsor . Archived from the original on May 18 , 2012 . Retrieved April 2 , 2012 . Jump up ^ `` Thames River : Fact Sheet '' . The Canadian Heritage Rivers System . Archived from the original on April 26 , 2012 . Retrieved August 5 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Butorac p. 10 . Jump up ^ Hall , Joseph ( October 2 , 1999 ) . `` Boredom becomes a killer on 401 ; Straight and smooth , ' carnage alley ' encourages a lethal lack of attention '' . News . The Toronto Star . p. 1 . Archived from the original on November 7 , 2012 . Retrieved March 24 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Crash area long known as ' Carnage Alley ' '' . News . The Toronto Star . June 8 , 2000 . p . A. 4 . Archived from the original on November 7 , 2012 . Retrieved March 24 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( March 2007 ) . Canada and Ontario Making Improvements to Highway 401 in Essex County ( Report ) . Canadian News Wire . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( June 26 , 2006 ) . `` Canada and Ontario Improving Highway 401 in London '' . Transport Canada . Archived from the original on October 21 , 2012 . Retrieved March 14 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : London & Area ( Map ) . MapArt. 2008 . ISBN 978 - 1 - 55368 - 648 - 4 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation ( 2003 ) , section R23 -- 24 . ^ Jump up to : Butorac . ^ Jump up to : Carter - Whitney , Maureen ; Esakin , Thomas C. ( 2010 ) . Ontario 's Greenbelt in an International Context ( PDF ) ( Report ) . Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy . p. 7 . ISBN 978 - 0 - 9812103 - 4 - 6 . Archived ( PDF ) from the original on July 24 , 2011 . Retrieved May 5 , 2010 . Jump up ^ McIlwraith p. 222 . ^ Jump up to : Rand McNally 2007 , p. 4 . Jump up ^ `` Directions '' . Yorkdale Shopping Centre . Archived from the original on May 14 , 2011 . Retrieved March 10 , 2011 . Jump up ^ `` Directions '' . Scarborough Town Centre . Archived from the original on May 12 , 2009 . Retrieved March 10 , 2011 . Jump up ^ `` Directions / Mall Hours '' . Pickering Town Centre . Archived from the original on March 9 , 2011 . Retrieved March 10 , 2011 . ^ Jump up to : MapArt ( 2008 ) . Golden Horseshoe ( Map ) . Peter Heiler Ltd . pp. 103 , 107 -- 112 , 266 -- 267 , 459 , 466 . § E3 -- K44 , R8 -- S16 , E44 -- F46 . ISBN 978 - 1 - 55198 - 877 - 1 . Jump up ^ Lorenz , Matt ; Elefteriadou , Lily ( July 2000 ) . `` A Probabilistic Approach to Defining Freeway Capacity and Breakdown '' ( PDF ) . Fourth International Symposium on Highway Capacity , Proceedings . The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute : 85 . Archived ( PDF ) from the original on December 7 , 2010 . Retrieved June 10 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Yagar , Sam ; Hui , Richard ( January 26 , 2007 ) . `` Systemwide Analysis of Freeway Improvements '' . Transportation Research Record . Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. 1554 : 172 -- 183 . doi : 10.3141 / 1554 - 21 . ISSN 0361 - 1981 . Archived from the original on January 28 , 2013 . Retrieved April 23 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario . `` About COMPASS : Systems in Operation '' . Toronto ( Highway 401 ) COMPASS System . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on February 14 , 2010 . Retrieved March 1 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario . `` Freeway Traffic Management Systems '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on December 15 , 2008 . Retrieved March 1 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario . `` Interactive Map '' . Traffic Cameras . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on June 7 , 2011 . Retrieved March 1 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Google ( April 28 , 2009 ) . `` Highway 401 between the Highway 403 and 410 junction and Highway 427 '' ( Map ) . Google Maps . Google . Retrieved April 28 , 2009 . Jump up ^ Toronto Transportation Plan ( Map ) . City of Toronto . 1959 . Jump up ^ Google ( April 28 , 2009 ) . `` Highway 401 between Highway 409 and Brock Road '' ( Map ) . Google Maps . Google . Retrieved April 28 , 2009 . ^ Jump up to : Toporama . `` Merging of Highway 401 's four carriageways into two '' ( Map ) . Canadian Topographic Atlas . Ministry of Natural Resources Canada . Retrieved June 9 , 2010 . Jump up ^ M.M Dillon Limited ( July 1983 ) . `` Executive Summary '' . Don Valley Corridor Transportation Study ( Report ) . Metropolitan Toronto Technical Transportation Planning Committee . p. iii . nearly 52 % of the vehicles entering the ( study ) corridor arrived via Highway 401 . ^ Jump up to : Google ( June 10 , 2010 ) . `` Reduction of through - lanes on Highway 401 near Salem Road in Ajax '' ( Map ) . Google Maps . Google . Retrieved June 10 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Highway 401 Class Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Design from Salem Road to Brock Street . Ministry of Transportation of Ontario . Jump up ^ Follert , Jillian ( October 10 , 2009 ) . `` Oshawa man frustrated by empty bridge during repatriations '' . Oshawa This Week . Metroland Media Group . Archived from the original on July 16 , 2011 . Retrieved December 30 , 2011 . Jump up ^ `` Notice of Construction at Hwy 401 in City of Oshawa and Bowmanville '' . Ontario Trucking Association . May 27 , 2011 . Archived from the original on March 24 , 2012 . Retrieved June 25 , 2011 . Jump up ^ Google ( May 11 , 2010 ) . `` Highway 401 from Highway 35 / 115 junction to Cobourg '' ( Map ) . Google Maps . Google . Retrieved May 11 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Toporama . `` Cobourg to Trenton near Lake Ontario '' ( Map ) . Canadian Topographic Atlas . Ministry of Natural Resources Canada . Retrieved June 9 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Peter Heiler Ltd ( 2009 ) , section C59 . ^ Jump up to : Shragge p. 89 . Jump up ^ Peter Heiler Ltd ( 2010 ) , pp. 37 , 50 , section A59 -- C61 . Jump up ^ Peter Heiler Ltd ( 2010 ) , p. 50 , section X64 -- Y64 . Jump up ^ Peter Heiler Ltd ( 2010 ) , p. 69 , section S73 -- T74 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( 2010 ) . `` Provincial Highway Traffic Volumes 1988 -- 2010 '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on October 4 , 2013 . Retrieved October 1 , 2013 . Jump up ^ A.A.D.T. Traffic Volumes 1955 -- 1969 And Traffic Collision Data 1967 -- 1969 ( Report ) . Department of Highways. 1970 . pp. 5 -- 11 . ^ Jump up to : Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( September 13 , 2008 ) . `` Contract # : 2008 -- 4009 '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on March 17 , 2010 . Retrieved March 11 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : Emery pp. 179 -- 182 . ^ Jump up to : Filey , Mike ( November 20 , 2011 ) . `` Road Pioneers of the Past '' . The Toronto Sun . p. 44 . Jump up ^ `` Toronto -- Hamilton Highway Proposed '' . The Toronto World . 34 ( 12125 ) . January 22 , 1914 . p. 14 . Retrieved February 9 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Shragge p. 55 . Jump up ^ Shragge p. 55 . `` ... the Toronto - to - Hamilton highway which , when completed in 1917 , was both Ontario 's first concrete highway and one of the longest such inter-city stretches in the world . '' Jump up ^ `` Increased Volume of Traffic '' . County And Suburbs . Toronto World . 40 ( 14472 ) . June 26 , 1920 . p. 7 . Retrieved February 12 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : Shragge pp. 79 -- 81 . Jump up ^ Filey pp. 61 -- 62 . Jump up ^ Stamp pp. 19 -- 20 . Jump up ^ `` Hopes to Improve Roads '' . The Gazette. 165 ( 42 ) . Montreal . February 18 , 1936 . p. 14 . Retrieved February 9 , 2010 . Jump up ^ English , Bob ( March 16 , 2006 ) . `` Remember that ' little four - lane freeway ? ' '' . Globe And Mail . Toronto . Archived from the original on September 30 , 2007 . Retrieved November 8 , 2017 ... the freeway concept was promoted by Hamiltonian Thomas B. McQuesten , then the highway minister . The Queen Elizabeth Way was already under construction , but McQuesten changed it into a dual - lane divided highway , based on Germany 's new autobahns . Jump up ^ Stamp pp. 11 -- 12 . Jump up ^ `` Highway Conditions In Eastern Ontario '' . The Ottawa Citizen. 94 ( 127 ) . Southam Newspapers . November 13 , 1936 . p. 29 . Retrieved February 16 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Brown p. 105 . Jump up ^ `` Road Convention Dates Announced '' . The Gazette . Montreal . June 7 , 1938 . Retrieved February 10 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : `` Ontario To Bar All Gas Stands On Speedways '' . The Gazette. 167 ( 214 ) . Montreal . September 7 , 1938 . pp. 1 , 19 . Retrieved February 12 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Debts Conversion Urged By Hepburn '' . The Gazette. 67 ( 296 ) . Montreal . September 12 , 1938 . p. 10 . Retrieved February 17 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Stamp p. 31 . Jump up ^ `` Bypassing Approved '' . The Gazette. 167 ( 214 ) . Montreal . September 7 , 1938 . p. 19 . Retrieved March 16 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Annual Report ( Report ) . Department of Highways. April 1942 . p. 9 . Jump up ^ Staff ( May 6 , 1942 ) . `` To Open Highway Soon '' . The Toronto Star . p. 15 . Jump up ^ Woodsworth , Charles J. ( October 17 , 1952 ) . `` Tasteless Names For Ontario Roads '' . The Evening Citizen. 110 ( 93 ) . Ottawa : Southam Newspapers . p. 40 . Retrieved February 9 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Chronology of Storm Events '' . Toronto and Region Conservation . July 8 , 1955 . Archived from the original on August 7 , 2010 . Retrieved March 18 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Speed Limit In Ontario Now At 60 '' . The Ottawa Citizen. 116 ( 281 ) . Southam Newspapers . May 29 , 1959 . p. 23 . Retrieved March 25 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : `` Link Kingston Bypass With Scenic Highway '' . The Ottawa Citizen. 112 ( 8 ) . Southam Newspapers . July 8 , 1954 . p. 16 . Retrieved February 9 , 2010 . Jump up ^ McKendry , Jennifer ( 2004 ) . `` Chronology of the History of Kingston '' . Kingston Historical Society . Archived from the original on April 26 , 2012 . Retrieved January 2 , 2012 . Jump up ^ Dales , Douglas ( June 20 , 1954 ) . `` Across The Map '' . The New York Times . pp. XX21 . Jump up ^ `` Toll Highways considered by Ontario '' . Saskatoon Star - Phoenix . The Canadian Press . January 12 , 1955 . p. 26 . Retrieved August 30 , 2013 . Jump up ^ `` Ontario Faces Backlog Totalling 920,000,000 In Highways Building '' . The Ottawa Citizen. 113 ( 206 ) . Southam Newspapers . March 1 , 1956 . p. 23 . Retrieved March 31 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Road Map of Ontario ( Map ) . Supertest Oil Co. 1958 . Retrieved March 26 , 2012 . ^ Jump up to : Heine , William C. ( July 15 , 1961 ) . `` Highway For Half Canada 's Population '' . The Ottawa Citizen. 11 ( 28 ) . Southam Newspapers . pp. 1 -- 4 , 22 . Retrieved April 1 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Drivers Itch To Try Out Road Link '' . The Ottawa Citizen. 118 ( 632 ) . Southam Newspapers . July 22 , 1961 . p. 14 . Retrieved April 1 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Freeway Alters Life in Ontario '' . Hemisphere Business Review . New York Times . January 17 , 1964 . p. 45 . Archived from the original on June 5 , 2011 . Retrieved April 2 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` 401 May Be Renamed Macdonald - Cartier '' . News . The Globe and Mail . 121 ( 35,907 ) . Toronto . January 9 , 1965 . p. 1 . Premier John Robarts is expected to announce Monday at the 150th birthday dinner for Sir John A. Macdonald that Highway 401 will be renamed the Macdonald -- Cartier Freeway . The naming will be in honour of Canada 's first prime minister and Georges Etienne Cartier , the Quebec leader in confederation . Jump up ^ `` Chronology '' . Annual Report ( Report ) . Department of Highways . March 31 , 1966 . p. 324 . Jump up ^ `` Heritage issue drives highway sign debate '' . The Record . Kitchener . December 23 , 1997 . p . B5 . Jump up ^ `` Macdonald - Cartier Freeway Act '' . Ontario Legislative Assembly . June 11 , 2003 . Archived from the original on June 10 , 2011 . Retrieved June 15 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Annual Report 1983 -- 1984 ( Report ) . Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications . March 31 , 1984 . Archived from the original on April 24 , 2016 . Retrieved June 24 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Josey , Stan ( February 10 , 1987 ) . `` 12 lanes to solve tie - ups on 401 '' . Neighbors . The Toronto Star . p . E1 . Archived from the original on October 26 , 2012 . Retrieved April 10 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Byrne , Caroline ( July 4 , 1989 ) . `` Highway 401 work will cause chaos for 8 more years '' . Neighbors . The Toronto Star . p . E2 . Archived from the original on October 26 , 2012 . Retrieved April 10 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Highway 401 Widening to Express / Collector System '' ( PDF ) . LEA Consulting . Archived from the original ( PDF ) on July 6 , 2011 . Retrieved April 6 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Josey , Stan ( July 4 , 1989 ) . `` Diverse area faces many challenges '' . News . The Toronto Star . p. 1 . Archived from the original on October 26 , 2012 . Retrieved April 10 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Crone , Greg ( February 11 , 1993 ) . `` Highway 401 from Kitchener to Toronto headed for six lanes , straight through '' . Kitchener -- Waterloo Record . p . A1 . Archived from the original on November 7 , 2012 . Retrieved April 17 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Highway 401 from Kitchener to Toronto headed for six lanes , straight through '' . The Toronto Star . February 3 , 1996 . p . A3 . Archived from the original on October 26 , 2012 . Retrieved April 10 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Highway 401 will get major reconstruction '' . Kitchener -- Waterloo Record . May 15 , 1991 . p . A1 . Archived from the original on October 26 , 2012 . Retrieved April 10 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Malloy , Gerry ( October 16 , 1993 ) . `` Highway chevrons aimed at curbing crashes '' . The Toronto Star . p. 16 , section L. Archived from the original on June 5 , 2011 . Retrieved February 26 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Google ( February 27 , 2010 ) . `` Chevrons on Highway 401 near Whitby . No signs indicate their use . '' ( Map ) . Google Maps . Google . Retrieved February 27 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : Crabtree , Joe ( Autumn 1995 ) . `` Advantage I - 75 Prepares to Cut Ribbon on Electronic Clearance '' . 59 ( 2 ) . United States Federal Highway Administration . Archived from the original on October 21 , 2011 . Retrieved March 8 , 2011 . Jump up ^ ITS America ( Winter 1995 ) . `` Along The Road '' . 59 ( 3 ) ( ADVANTAGE I - 75 Testing Completed ed . ) . United States Federal Highway Administration . Archived from the original on October 19 , 2011 . Retrieved February 27 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Transport Canada ( November 1999 ) . `` Where is Canada Now ? '' . En Route to Intelligent Mobility ( PDF ) ( Report ) . Government of Canada . p. xiii . Archived ( PDF ) from the original on July 6 , 2011 . Retrieved March 8 , 2011 . ^ Jump up to : Seidel , Jeff ( December 21 , 1999 ) . `` ' Carnage Alley ' : Ontario 's Highway 401 was a road of death in 1999 '' . Knight - Ridder Newspapers . Archived from the original on March 12 , 2012 . Retrieved February 25 , 2015 . Jump up ^ Scott , Cameron ( December 15 , 2010 ) . `` What is Lake Effect Snow '' . Sciences 360 . Archived from the original on July 4 , 2014 . Retrieved February 25 , 2015 . Jump up ^ Annett , Doug ( March 2000 ) . `` Highway Safety : A Drive in the Country '' . Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Magazine . Business Information Group . Archived from the original on July 27 , 2011 . Retrieved February 25 , 2015 . Jump up ^ `` Killer highway claims ten more car smash victims '' . The Birmingham Post . September 4 , 1999 . Retrieved February 22 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : Robson , Dan ( August 30 , 2009 ) . `` Reliving the horror of the 401 fog '' . The Toronto Star . Archived from the original on February 26 , 2015 . Retrieved February 25 , 2015 . Jump up ^ McCann , Wendy ( August 31 , 1999 ) . `` Killer Highway ' Pleasant ' To Drive '' . The Hamilton Spectator . p. 3 , section C. Archived from the original on November 7 , 2012 . Retrieved February 22 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` 401 Incident : Timeline '' . Windsor Fire and Rescue Services . Archived from the original on September 28 , 2011 . Retrieved February 25 , 2015 . Jump up ^ `` Cleanup continues after horrific highway crash '' . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . September 5 , 1999 . Archived from the original on September 24 , 2015 . Retrieved February 22 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Ontario puts more money into highways than ever before '' . Today 's Trucking . Newcom Business Media . January 5 , 2000 . Archived from the original on February 26 , 2015 . Retrieved February 25 , 2015 . Jump up ^ `` Upgrades , extra police planned for Canada 401 '' . The Blade . Toledo , Ohio . September 18 , 1999 . p. 8 . Retrieved February 22 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : Robson , Dan ( August 30 , 2009 ) . `` Improvements made to ' Carnage Alley ' '' . The Toronto Star . Archived from the original on September 5 , 2009 . Retrieved February 19 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : `` Stretch of 401 to be renamed ' Highway of Heroes ' '' . CTV Toronto . August 24 , 2007 . Archived from the original on January 6 , 2011 . Retrieved February 3 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : Office of the Premier ( September 7 , 2007 ) . ' Highway of Heroes ' Signs Unveiled Along Highway 401 ( Report ) . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on July 17 , 2011 . Retrieved February 3 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Hwy. 401 Will Be Renamed ' Highway of Heroes ' to Honour Soldiers '' . City News . August 24 , 2007 . Archived from the original on June 29 , 2011 . Retrieved February 3 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Fisher , Pete ( August 14 , 2011 ) . `` Salute to ' Brothers ' '' . The Toronto Sun . pp. 6 -- 7 . Jump up ^ Warmington , Joe ( June 23 , 2007 ) . `` Our own Trail of Tears '' . News . The Toronto Sun . p. 3 . Jump up ^ Fisher , Pete ( July 13 , 2007 ) . `` Highway of Heroes : Let 's make it official '' . Northumberland Today . Sun Media . Archived from the original on November 9 , 2017 . Retrieved November 8 , 2017 . Jump up ^ `` Section of 401 to be renamed for fallen '' . The Record . Kitchener . August 24 , 2007 . Retrieved February 3 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Cassin , J. `` Highway of Heroes officially dedicated in Port Hope '' . Northumberland Today . Sun Media . Jump up ^ `` Evacuees begin returning home after fireball consumes Toronto propane plant '' . CanWest News Service . August 10 , 2010 . Archived from the original on August 25 , 2008 . Retrieved February 21 , 2010 . Ontario Provincial Police spokesman Sgt . Cam Woolley said the incident triggered the biggest closure of the 401 in the highway 's history . Jump up ^ Taylor , Bill ( August 11 , 2008 ) . `` Residents return after blast '' . The Toronto Star . Archived from the original on February 21 , 2010 . Retrieved February 21 , 2010 ... a 10 - kilometre stretch of Canada 's busiest highway , the 401 , was shut down as was the southern end of Highway 400 , which carries people to and from cottage country . The highway was re-opened at around 8 p.m. , but the restricted ramps will remain closed for some time . Jump up ^ `` Highway 401 Reopens Following Propane Facility Blast '' . CityNews . August 10 , 2010 . Archived from the original on May 22 , 2010 . Retrieved February 21 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( September 7 , 2005 ) . `` Contract # : 2005 -- 2014 '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on October 30 , 2007 . Retrieved February 22 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Stevenson interchange open '' . Oshawa This Week . Metroland Media Group . September 14 , 2007 . Archived from the original on October 29 , 2007 . Retrieved October 4 , 2007 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( July 14 , 2008 ) . `` Contract # : 2008 -- 3004 '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on October 30 , 2007 . Retrieved March 14 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Cornies , Larry ( December 4 , 2010 ) . `` ' Need for speed ' creates havoc on 401 '' . London , Ontario , Canada : London Free Press . Archived from the original on July 13 , 2011 . Retrieved June 8 , 2011 . Except for a few crowning touches that will wait until spring , the massive construction project on a 20 - kilometre stretch of Hwy. 401 just east of Woodstock is finally finished . ^ Jump up to : Detroit River International Crossing Study team . `` DRIC Reports ( Canada ) '' . Detroit River International Crossing Project . Archived from the original on May 4 , 2010 . Retrieved February 26 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Windsor 's ' Garden of Eden ' '' . Windsor Star . October 9 , 2007 . Archived from the original on November 8 , 2012 . Retrieved February 26 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Pearson , Craig ( February 14 , 2008 ) . `` Province buying up land for 401 extension '' . Windsor Star . p. 1 , section A. Archived from the original on December 30 , 2010 . Retrieved February 26 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Couple worries new parkway will surround their home '' . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . November 27 , 2009 . Archived from the original on November 7 , 2012 . Retrieved December 14 , 2011 . Jump up ^ Government of Canada ( March 3 , 2008 ) . `` Border transportation partnership reaches milestone '' . Transport Canada . Archived from the original on February 25 , 2010 . Retrieved February 26 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Liltwin , Natalie ( June 3 , 2009 ) . `` DRIC controversy goes on '' . Windsor Star . Canwest Publishing . Archived from the original on June 11 , 2009 . Retrieved June 16 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Ambassador Bridge boss sues Canada , U.S. '' CBC News . March 25 , 2010 . Archived from the original on April 9 , 2011 . Retrieved June 16 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Kristy , Dylan ( May 5 , 2011 ) . `` Sierra Club , bridge lose bid to derail DRIC '' . The Windsor Star . Archived from the original on April 23 , 2012 . Retrieved January 2 , 2012 . Jump up ^ Detroit River International Crossing Study team ( May 1 , 2008 ) . `` Parkway Map '' ( PDF ) . URS Corporation . Archived ( PDF ) from the original on July 6 , 2011 . Retrieved February 26 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Ground Breaks on Windsor - Essex Parkway '' . Today 's Trucking . August 19 , 2011 . Archived from the original on May 27 , 2015 . Retrieved May 27 , 2015 . Jump up ^ Battagello , Dave ( November 28 , 2012 ) . `` Gray ' Moved ' by Tribute to Name Parkway in his Honour '' . The Windsor Star . Archived from the original on December 1 , 2012 . Retrieved December 2 , 2012 . Jump up ^ `` What 's Ahead This Spring '' ( PDF ) . The Rt . Honourable Herb Gray Parkway ( Windsor - Essex Parkway ) Web Site . Archived ( PDF ) from the original on May 28 , 2015 . Retrieved April 21 , 2015 . Jump up ^ Battagello , Dave ( June 24 , 2015 ) . `` Herb Gray Parkway Opening This Weekend to Traffic '' . The Windsor Star . Archived from the original on June 25 , 2015 . Retrieved June 25 , 2015 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( November 20 , 2015 ) . `` Highway 401 Section of the New Rt . Hon . Herb Gray Parkway Now Complete '' ( PDF ) ( Press release ) . Ministry of Transportation of Ontario . Archived ( PDF ) from the original on March 4 , 2016 . Retrieved March 10 , 2016 . Jump up ^ Thompson , Chris ( December 16 , 2015 ) . `` Meeting Gauges Feedback on How Highway 401 Should Cross Ojibway Parkway '' . Windsor Star . Archived from the original on December 25 , 2015 . Retrieved March 10 , 2016 . Jump up ^ Battagello , Dave ( May 22 , 2013 ) . `` Canada to start buying property in Delray for DRIC bridge '' . Windsor Star . Archived from the original on August 7 , 2013 . Retrieved August 4 , 2013 . Jump up ^ `` Howe bridge highlighted during Trudeau - Trump meeting '' . Windsor Star . February 13 , 2017 . Archived from the original on February 13 , 2017 . Retrieved February 13 , 2017 . ^ Jump up to : Hertz , Barry ( July 25 , 2007 ) . `` Province plans to create 6 - lane Highway 401 '' . The National Post . Toronto . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( 2008 ) . `` Borders and Gateways '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on August 5 , 2010 . Retrieved March 15 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( August 27 , 2007 ) . `` Contract # : 2007 -- 3043 '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on October 30 , 2007 . Retrieved March 14 , 2010 . Jump up ^ URS Corporation ( January 12 , 2004 ) . `` London 401 Preliminary Design Study '' . City of London , Ontario , Ontario Ministry of Transportation . Archived from the original on November 4 , 2012 . Retrieved July 5 , 2010 . Examine the Highway 401 Corridor in London ^ Jump up to : Government of Ontario ( November 12 , 2015 ) . `` New Highway Interchange Improves Access to London '' . Ontario Ministry of Transportation . Archived from the original on November 14 , 2015 . Retrieved November 12 , 2015 . Yesterday , Ontario opened a new interchange at Highway 401 and Wonderland Road Jump up ^ `` Demolition of Westminster Drive Bridge to Close 401 Saturday Night '' . AM 980 News . July 5 , 2014 . Archived from the original on July 14 , 2014 . Retrieved July 7 , 2014 . The demolition and replacement of the Westminster Drive Bridge Jump up ^ `` London Transportation Report - Southwest Area Plan '' ( PDF ) . City of London , Ontario . May 5 , 2010 . Archived from the original ( PDF ) on June 21 , 2011 . Retrieved June 10 , 2010 . Future Interchanges / Upgrade : Colonel Talbot at Highway 401 ^ Jump up to : London Free Press ( November 12 , 2015 ) . `` New Hwy. 401 interchange opens at Wonderland Road in London '' . Sun Media . Archived from the original on November 16 , 2015 . Retrieved November 12 , 2015 . The next phase will involve a reconstruction of the interchange at Veteran 's Memorial Parkway and extending the highway to Wilton Grove Road . The project should begin in 2017 , followed by the reconstruction of the Highbury Road and Colonel Talbot Road exits . Jump up ^ Transportation Division ( November 13 , 2007 ) . `` Veterans Memorial Parkway , Environmental Study , Official Plan and Zoning Amendment '' ( PDF ) . Veterans Memorial Parkway : Preferred Alternative to Highway 401 / VMP interchange . City of London , Ontario . Archived from the original ( PDF ) on December 17 , 2010 . Retrieved April 26 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Transportation Division ( May 30 , 2007 ) . `` Veterans Memorial Parkway , Interchange - class environmental assessment study '' ( PDF ) . City of London , Ontario . Archived from the original ( PDF ) on December 17 , 2010 . Retrieved April 26 , 2010 . Reformatting the Highway 401 / VMP interchange Jump up ^ `` London Long Term Transportation Corridor Protection Study '' ( PDF ) . City of London , Ontario . April 4 , 2001 . Archived from the original ( PDF ) on June 21 , 2011 . Retrieved April 27 , 2010 . Note that the proposed widening of Highway 401 to eight lanes through London could reduce the need to widen crossing roadways along Exeter Road and Dingman Drive . Jump up ^ Ontario Ministry of Transportation ( October 2010 ) . `` Southern Highways Program 2010 -- 2014 '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on March 2 , 2011 . Retrieved October 24 , 2010 . Projects beyond 2014 : Wellington Rd to Highbury Ave , London Jump up ^ Record staff ( September 3 , 2014 ) . `` Cambridge Committee Grants Weekend Noise Exemption for Hwy. 401 Work '' . Waterloo Region Record . Kitchener . Archived from the original on November 12 , 2014 . Retrieved November 12 , 2014 . During the next four years , construction crews will widen Highway 401 from six to 10 lanes and rebuild four overpasses that stretch across the highway . Jump up ^ Record Staff ( June 5 , 2015 ) . `` Highway 401 Widening Work Starts Monday in Cambridge '' . The Record . Waterloo Region : Metroland Media . Archived from the original on July 14 , 2016 . Retrieved November 8 , 2017 . Jump up ^ Planning Housing and Community Services , Transportation Planning ( March 31 , 2009 ) . `` Highway 8 and Highway 401 Interchange Improvements '' . Region of Waterloo . Archived from the original on June 13 , 2012 . Retrieved January 2 , 2012 . ^ Jump up to : Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( May 24 , 2007 ) . `` Ontario 's High Occupancy Vehicle Lane Network : Summary of the Plan for the 400 - Series Highways in the Greater Golden Horseshoe '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on October 29 , 2007 . Retrieved February 25 , 2010 . Figure 2 proposes a vision for `` growing the corridors '' by building on existing HOV lanes . This involves extending the HOV lanes on Highways 400 and 404 farther north and adding lanes to other key sections such as Highway 401 in Peel Region . Jump up ^ Swayze , Kevin ( December 4 , 2011 ) . `` Highway 401 Carpool Lanes Proposed '' . The Record . Kitchener . Archived from the original on December 6 , 2011 . Retrieved December 4 , 2011 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( August 19 , 2009 ) . `` Contract # : 2009 -- 2031 '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on October 30 , 2007 . Retrieved February 22 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( January 29 , 2014 ) . `` Highway 401 / Mavis Road Interchange and New Ramps at the Highway 401 / 410 / 403 Interchange '' ( PDF ) . Government of Ontario . Archived ( PDF ) from the original on February 2 , 2014 . Retrieved January 30 , 2014 . Jump up ^ Infrastructure Ontario Highway 401 Expansion Archived September 4 , 2017 , at the Wayback Machine . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( November 30 , 2008 ) . `` Contract # : 2008 -- 2017 '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on October 30 , 2007 . Retrieved February 22 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( July 22 , 2009 ) . `` Contract # : 2009 -- 2029 '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on October 30 , 2007 . Retrieved February 22 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Ontario Ministry of Transportation ( August 2009 ) . `` Southern Highways Program 2008 -- 2012 '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on June 28 , 2009 . Retrieved June 11 , 2010 . Projects beyond 2012 : Highway 401 / 400 Interchange , Toronto Jump up ^ Totten Sims Hubicki Associates ( August 17 , 2009 ) . `` Appendix D: Recommended Design Plans '' . Highway 407 Environmental Assessment , West Durham Link at Highway 401 ( PDF ) ( Report ) . Ministry of Transportation of Ontario . p. 7 . Archived from the original ( PDF ) on July 7 , 2011 . Retrieved February 17 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Totten Sims Hubicki Associates ( August 17 , 2009 ) . `` Appendix D: Recommended Design Plans '' . Highway 407 Environmental Assessment , East Durham Link at Highway 401 ( PDF ) ( Report ) . Ministry of Transportation of Ontario . p. 9 . Archived from the original ( PDF ) on July 7 , 2011 . Retrieved February 17 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Szekely , Reka ( June 30 , 2009 ) . `` Highway 401 between Ajax and Whitby to be widened '' . Ajax - Pickering News Advertiser . Metroland Media Group . Archived from the original on May 23 , 2012 . Retrieved February 17 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Highway 401 Brock to Courtice Jump up ^ `` Archived copy '' ( PDF ) . Archived ( PDF ) from the original on March 4 , 2016 . Retrieved February 26 , 2016 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( October 14 , 2008 ) . `` Contract # : 2008 -- 4006 '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on March 17 , 2010 . Retrieved March 11 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( November 9 , 2009 ) . `` Contract # : 2009 -- 4003 '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on March 17 , 2010 . Retrieved March 11 , 2010 . Jump up ^ MacDonald , Valerie ( August 23 , 2016 ) . `` Hwy. 401 construction project on schedule '' . Northumberland Today . Archived from the original on August 25 , 2016 . Retrieved August 24 , 2016 . Jump up ^ `` HMSHost Corporation and Kilmer Van Nostrand Co . Limited Ink 50 - Year Agreement to Build 23 World - Class Service Centres on Major Canadian Highways '' . CNW Group . April 7 , 2010 . Archived from the original on April 10 , 2010 . Retrieved June 5 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : `` Ontario Finalizes Plans For Highway Service Centres '' . Brock News . Brockville : DCE Productions . April 7 , 2010 . Archived from the original on July 6 , 2011 . Retrieved April 9 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Ministry of Transportation ( 2003 ) , section T20 , S21 , R23 -- R24 , Q27 -- Q28 , P31 , O33 -- P34 , N36 . Jump up ^ `` ONroute Locations '' . Host Kilmer Service Centres . Archived from the original on October 7 , 2010 . Retrieved October 1 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : Host Kilmer Service Centres ( October 1 , 2010 ) . `` First Phase of Highway 401 Service Centres Complete '' ( Press release ) . CNW Group . Archived from the original on October 4 , 2010 . Retrieved October 1 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Wightman , Ken ( March 20 , 2010 ) . `` Celebrating the Doomed Domes of Woodstock Service Centre '' . Digital Journal . Archived from the original on September 21 , 2010 . Retrieved September 26 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Caldwell , Brian ( May 12 , 2010 ) . `` 401 service centres east of Cambridge last to be spruced up '' . Cambridge Reporter . Metroland Media Group . Archived from the original on July 8 , 2011 . Retrieved June 6 , 2010 . ^ Jump up to : Ministry of Transportation of Ontario ( February 18 , 2010 ) . `` Ontario Service Centres FAQ '' . Government of Ontario . Archived from the original on September 5 , 2013 . Retrieved September 4 , 2013 . Jump up ^ Butorac pp. 158 -- 159 . Jump up ^ Norris , Mike ( February 2010 ) . `` Centres forced to close '' . Whig Standard . Kingston : Sun Media . Retrieved April 9 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Zajac , Ronald ( January 17 , 2011 ) . `` Westbound 401 Service Centre Partly Reopening '' . Retrieved January 25 , 2012 . ^ Jump up to : Battagello , Dave ( November 20 , 2015 ) . `` Herb Gray Parkway Completed , Final Stretch to Open Saturday '' . Windsor Star . Archived from the original on November 21 , 2015 . Retrieved November 21 , 2015 . Jump up ^ `` Aerial photo '' . 1963 . Retrieved October 20 , 2017 . Jump up ^ `` Aerial photo '' . 1964 . Retrieved October 20 , 2017 . Jump up ^ `` Committee votes to open Brimley Road '' . The Globe and Mail . Toronto . February 19 , 1988 . p . A13 . ^ Jump up to : Annual Report 1983 -- 1984 ( Report ) . Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications . March 31 , 1984 . Archived from the original on June 26 , 2014 . Retrieved June 24 , 2010 . Jump up ^ Public and Safety Information Branch ( September 6 , 1974 ) . `` Opening of New Brock Road Highway 401 Interchange , Closing of Liverpool Road Highway 401 Interchange '' ( Press release ) . Ministry of Transportation and Communications . ^ Jump up to : Potter , Warren ( December 10 , 1985 ) . `` Ajax Commuters Get Partial Relief With New Ramps '' . Neighbors East Edition . The Toronto Star . p . East3 . Jump up ^ Andrews , Brad ( October 27 , 2014 ) . `` Holt Road work in Clarington paves way for Highway 407 '' . Metroland Media . Archived from the original on October 28 , 2014 . Bibliography ( edit ) Books ( edit ) Brown , Ron ( 1997 ) . Toronto 's Lost Villages . Toronto : Polar Bear Press . ISBN 1 - 896757 - 02 - 2 . Butorac , Yvonne ( June 1 , 1995 ) . Great Exits -- The 401 . Erin , Ontario : Boston Mills Press . ISBN 1 - 55046 - 137 - 0 . Emery , Claire ; Ford , Barbara ( 1967 ) . From Pathway to Skyway . Burlington , Ontario : Confederation Centennial Committee of Burlington . pp. 179 -- 182 . Archived from the original on June 14 , 2011 . Retrieved May 3 , 2010 . Filey , Mike ( 1994 ) . Toronto sketches 3 : the way we were . Toronto : Dundurn Press . pp. 61 -- 62 . ISBN 1 - 55002 - 227 - X . Retrieved February 10 , 2010 . McIlwraith , Thomas F. ( 1997 ) . Looking for old Ontario : two centuries of landscape change . Toronto : University of Toronto Press . ISBN 978 - 0 - 8020 - 7658 - 8 . Retrieved March 13 , 2010 . ' 401 ' The Macdonald -- Cartier Freeway . Toronto : Ministry of Transportation and Communications . 1972 . Shragge , John ; Bagnato , Sharon ( 1984 ) . From Footpaths to Freeways . Toronto : Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications , Historical Committee . ISBN 0 - 7743 - 9388 - 2 . Stamp , Robert M. ( 1987 ) . QEW : Canada 's First Superhighway . Erin , Ontario : Boston Mills Press . ISBN 0 - 919783 - 84 - 8 . Maps ( edit ) Geomatics Office ( 2003 ) . Southern Ontario Road Maps ( Map ) . Cartography by Bryan Simmons , Lori - Anne Martin . Ministry of Transportation . Retrieved January 5 , 2012 . Eastern Ontario ( Map ) . Cartography by MapArt . Peter Heiler Ltd. 2009 . § C59 . ISBN 978 - 1 - 55368 - 222 - 6 . Ontario Back Road Atlas ( Map ) . Cartography by MapArt . Peter Heiler Ltd. 2010 . ISBN 978 - 1 - 55198 - 226 - 7 . Toronto & area map book ( Map ) . Cartography by Perly 's . Rand McNally. 2007 . p. 4 . ISBN 978 - 0 - 88640 - 928 - 9 . External links ( edit ) Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ontario Highway 401 and Highway of Heroes . Route map : Google KML file ( edit help ) Display on Google Maps Template : Attached KML / Ontario Highway 401 KML is from Wikidata Official websites ( edit ) Ministry of Transportation of Ontario The Rt . Honourable Herb Gray Parkway ( Windsor - Essex Parkway ) web site Live COMPASS Traffic Cameras Photos and additional information ( edit ) Highway 401 at OntHighways Highway 401 at vintagekingshighways.com Videos ( edit ) Video of Highway 401 Extension through Windsor Video of Highway 401 between Tilbury and Essex Video of Highway 401 between Highway 4 and the Veterans Memorial Parkway Video of Highway 401 between Highway 402 and 403 Video of Highway 401 between Highway 403 and 8 Video of Highway 401 through Greater Toronto Controlled - access highways of Ontario 400 - series highways 400 400A 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 409 410 412 416 417 420 427 QEW Other Provincial Hanlon Expwy. ( 6 , 7 ) Conestoga Pkwy. ( 7 , 8 , 85 ) Thunder Bay Expwy. ( 11 , 17 , 61 ) 58 69 115 137 Municipal Hamilton Cootes Dr . Lincoln M. Alexander Pkwy . Nikola Tesla Blvd . Red Hill Valley Pkwy . London Highbury Ave . Vets Mem . Pkwy . Ottawa Ottawa Road 174 Thunder Bay Harbour Expwy . Toronto Black Creek Dr . Don Valley Pkwy . Gardiner Expwy . Highway 2A W.R. Allen Rd . Windsor Dougall Pkwy . E.C. Row Expwy . Future & Proposals Under construction 407 in Clarington 418 69 at French River 427 in Vaughan Approved , pre-construction 7N ( Kitchener - Guelph ) 6N ( Morriston Bypass ) Inactive proposals Mid-Peninsula Highway Bradford Bypass GTA West Corridor County roads Numbered highways Expressways and 400 - series highways King 's Highways Secondary highways Tertiary and 7000 - series highways Provincial highways Former provincial highways Highways Expressways Trans - Canada Highway Connecting Link Emergency Detour Route The King 's Highways of Ontario Current highways 5 6 7 7A 8 9 10 11 11B 12 15 16 17 17A 17B 19 20 21 23 24 26 27 28 33 34 35 37 40 41 48 49 58 58A 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 69 71 72 77 85 89 93 94 101 102 105 108 112 115 118 124 125 127 129 130 132 137 138 140 141 144 148 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 409 410 412 416 417 418 420 427 QEW Former highways 2A 2B 2S 3B 4A 5A 7B 8A 11A 12B 14 15A 18 18A 18B 22 24A 25 29 30 31 32 35A 35B 36 38 39 40B 42 43 44 45 46 47 48B 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 59 68 70 73 74 75 76 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 86 87 88 90 91 92 95 96 97 98 99 100 103 104 106 107 109 110 111 114 116 117 119 120 121 122 123 126 128 131 133 134 135 136 169 400A County roads Numbered highways Expressways and 400 - series highways King 's Highways Secondary highways Tertiary and 7000 - series highways Provincial highways Former provincial highways Highways Expressways Trans - Canada Highway Connecting Link Emergency Detour Route Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ontario_Highway_401&oldid=838548683 '' Categories : 1947 establishments in Ontario 400 - series highways Expressways in Canada Roads in London , Ontario Roads in Mississauga Toronto highways Transport in Cornwall , Ontario Transport in Kingston , Ontario Transport in Kitchener , Ontario Transport in Oshawa Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from September 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links CS1 : Julian -- Gregorian uncertainty Webarchive template wayback links Articles needing more detailed references Use mdy dates from November 2014 Articles using KML from Wikidata Featured articles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Deutsch فارسی Français Nederlands Polski Português Simple English Slovenčina Suomi தமிழ் 中文 5 more Edit links This page was last edited on 27 April 2018 , at 18 : 24 . 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Question: where does the highway of heroes start and end