400-Series Highways in Ontario Online Trivia | World

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This short but important highway began its life as just an extention of the Don Valley Parkway.

Answer: Hwy 404

It is expected that Hwy 404 will eventually be extended at least to Georgina, and possibly further, to alleviate the pressure of cottage-country traffic on Hwy 400.

2. The greatest of the 400-Series, Hwy 401, is the main artery of Southern Ontario. It goes all the way from the Michigan border in the west to the Quebec border in the East, a distance of 815 kilometers, or about 500 miles. In 1965, when it was nearing completion, Hwy 401 was given what name, in honour of the Fathers of Confederation?

Answer: MacDonald-Cartier Freeway

Sir John A. MacDonald of Ontario and Sir George Etienne Cartier of Quebec are considered two of the most important men who negotiated the Confederation of the Dominion of Canada in the years up to and including 1867. Sir Charles Tupper and Adams Archibald are also among the Fathers of Confederation, but alas, they are not honoured on any Ontario highways. Samuel de Champlain was an important explorer and the founder of Quebec, although he died more than 200 years before Confederation, and thus was unlikely to be involved in the negotiations.

Hwy 401 was first conceived during the 1930s, but the production demands of World War Two postponed any progress. Work began immediately after the war, and the very first segment of the road was opened between Scarborough and Oshawa in 1947. The final segment (through Brockville) was completed in 1968. This was around the time that the centennial of Confederation was being celebrated, and likely led to the choice of MacDonald and Cartier for this honour.

3. This highway is the main artery of the Ottawa valley. The portion going through the city of Ottawa is known as "the Queensway."

Answer: Hwy 417

The eastern end of the 417 connects to Autoroute 40 in Quebec, providing a direct route from Ottawa to Montreal.

4. Although the speed limit is confined to 100 km/h (about 65 mph), the 400-series highways are actually designed and built for traffic travelling at what speed?

Answer: 120 km/h

Politics prevails over common sense, and there is a $235 fine for travelling at the speed the road is designed for.

5. Because of its odd route and numerous changes from its original planned route, this highway was called, "like a meandering river, a highway that doesn't quite know which way it's going," by a Toronto newspaper.

Answer: Hwy 403

Originally the 403 was planned to go from Woodstock to Mississauga, to alleviate east-west congestion on both the 401 and the QEW. The western end, from Woodstock to Hamilton, was built pretty much as planned. From there on, however, things became chaotic.

The main section from Hamilton to Mississauga was never built, although the planned route was later used for the western end of the 407. As the 407 is a toll route, however, most people still use the QEW to go from Hamilton to Mississauga, resulting in enormous congestion with no relief in sight. Meanwhile, the eastern piece of the 403 was built, and then extended to highway 410, in a zigzag pattern that betrays the conflicts in the planning process.

6. At only 4.7 kilometers, the 420 was always one of the shortest highways in the 400-series. In 2000, however, it became even shorter, as the eastern portion of it was transferred from provincial to municipal jurisdiction and became Roberts Street. Which municipality is Roberts Street in?

Answer: Niagara Falls

The reason the 420 is so small is that it's just a stub left over from the original route of the QEW prior to 1972.

7. Another very short 400-series highway is known as the Belfield Expressway. It provides a route from Toronto and the 401 to Toronto's Pearson Airport, and helps relieve congestion on the 427.

Answer: Hwy 409

A short piece of the Belfield, west of the 427, has been sold to Pearson and is now part of the airport's internal road system.

8. This Highway is known as the Veteran's Memorial Highway. It connects Ottawa to the 401 and thereby to the rest of the 400 system.

Answer: Hwy 416

For decades it was a terrible nuisance to travel to Canada's capital city over crowded two-lane highways, until this beautiful road was finally built. The name "Veteran's Memorial Highway" was officially conferred on June 6th, 1998, the 54th anniversary of D-Day.

At its northern terminus in Ottawa, the 416 connects to the 417. At its southern terminus it connects to the 401.

9. This highway is also known as the General Brock Parkway. Because of its connection to Interstate 90 at the Queenston-Lewiston bridge, it is a key route for truck traffic to the USA.

Answer: Hwy 405

Four bridges cross the Niagara River, connecting the Canadian province of Ontario to the U.S. state of New York. The bridges (north to south) are the Queenston-Lewiston, the Whirlpool, the Rainbow, and the Peace Bridge. The Whirlpool and Rainbow bridges are "tourist bridges" in Niagara Falls, used mainly by cars and pedestrians.

The Peace Bridge connects Fort Erie to Buffalo, NY, and is used by a mixture of cars and trucks. The Queenston-Lewiston bridge is used predominantly by trucks.

10. Highway 451 is one of the busiest and most important highways in Canada, but you won't find it on any map. The term "Hwy 451" is used only for internal purposes at the Ministry of Transport. On maps and signposts, the 451 is always referred to as the:

Answer: Queen Elizabeth Way

Only the QEW is part of the provincial highway system. The Don Valley Parkway is owned by the City of Toronto, the Lincoln Alexander Parkway is owned by the City of Hamilton, and the E. C. Row Expressway is owned by the City of Windsor.

The QEW is not named after our ruling Queen, but after the Queen Elizabeth (Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later known as the Queen Mother) who was the royal consort of George VI. In 1939 George VI and Elizabeth toured Canada, the first Royal couple to do so, amidst enormous public enthusiasm.

Source: Author Dukasaur

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Beatka before going online.
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400-Series Highways in Ontario Quiz

If you love to drive around Ontario, your best friend is Ontario's 400-series of expressways. How well do you know them?

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