Ontario Highway 407

Burlington–Vaughan

Highway 407 begins in Burlington within Halton Region at the Freeman Interchange between Highway 403 and the QEW, from which it branches off northward. The six-lane route passes under Brant Street, Upper Middle Road, and Guelph Line (Halton Regional Road 1) before it interchanges with Dundas Street (Halton Regional Road 5, formerly Highway 5). It briefly enters greenspace as it curves gently to the northeast, avoiding the nearby Niagara Escarpment. The route is crossed by Walkers Line, east of which residential subdivisions line the south side and greenspace lines the north. At an interchange with Appleby Line (Halton Regional Road 20), the highway straightens and travels parallel to Dundas Street before passing over Bronte Creek and under the Canadian National Railway's (CN) Halwest Subdivision.^[11][12]

Highway 407 south of Highway 401; this section follows a north–south alignment to Highway 403

East of Bronte Creek, Highway 407 enters an agricultural area, interspersed with woodlots. It enters Oakville at the Tremaine Road (Halton Regional Road 22) overpass, then gradually swerves to the north as it encounters an interchange with Bronte Road (Halton Regional Road 25, formerly Highway 25). The route crosses Sixteen Mile Creek just north of Glenarchy Conservation Area, then travels parallel to the creek for several kilometres. It swerves north after an interchange with Neyagawa Boulevard, near the hamlet of Glenarchy. After diverging from the creek, it curves northeast, parallel to and north of Burnhamthorpe Road, where it interchanges with Trafalgar Road (Halton Regional Road 3). Highway 407 then encounters Highway 403 at a large interchange where it curves sharply to the northwest; Highway 403, meanwhile, curves from the southeast to the northeast.^[11][12]

Now travelling parallel to and immediately west of the Halton–Peel regional boundary and Oakville–Mississauga city boundary, the six-lane Highway 407 progresses northwest alongside a power transmission corridor, with residential areas to the east and farmland to the west. The route continues as such northwest to Highway 401, passing under Lower Base Line and Eglinton Avenue and interchanging at Britannia Road and Derry Road before crossing the Canadian Pacific Railway's (CP) Galt Subdivision. At Highway 401, the route makes a sharp curve to the northeast, while interconnecting ramps weave across both freeways over several kilometres. It enters Peel Region at the Winston Churchill Boulevard (Peel Regional Road 19) overpass and follows another power transmission corridor just north of the Brampton–Mississauga boundary.^[11][12]

Highway 407 and Derry Road, facing southwest; this sections of Highway 407 parallels the boundary between Mississauga (at left) and Milton (at right).

Highway 407 swerves east and encounters an interchange with Mississauga Road (Peel Regional Road 1) just prior to crossing the Credit River and the Orangeville Brampton Railway, after which it enters the urban GTA. After passing interchanges with Mavis Road (Peel Regional Road 18) and Hurontario Street (formerly Highway 10), the route encounters Highway 410 at another sprawling interchange located over Etobicoke Creek. Over the next 7 kilometres (4.3 mi), the route nudges northward into Brampton, interchanging with Dixie Road (Peel Regional Road 4) and Bramalea Road and meeting another CN railway line, before crossing Steeles Avenue (Peel Regional Road 15). Highway 407 curves back to the northeast as it interchanges with Airport Road (Peel Regional Road 7) and passes beneath another CN line, before encountering the final interchange in Peel Region at Goreway Drive. It crosses the West Humber River and former Highway 50 in Claireville Conservation Area before curving east into Vaughan, in York Region.^[11][12]

Vaughan–Pickering

Highway 407 facing east toward Pine Valley Drive, in Vaughan

Immediately after crossing into Vaughan, Highway 407 encounters the first of three large interchanges with other 400-series highways in York Region. The Highway 427 interchange is a four-level partial stack located just north of Steeles Avenue in Vaughan and adjacent to the 407 ETR Concession Company offices. The interchange features weaved ramps which connect to former Highway 27, located just to the east. The route continues eastward, parallel to and between Steeles Avenue and Highway 7. It dives through the Humber River valley alongside a CN line and along the northern border of Thackeray Conservation Lands, passing beneath a CP line. After an interchange with Pine Valley Drive (York Regional Road 57), the route becomes sandwiched between the industrial lands of the Pine Valley Business Park and the Emery Creek Corporate Park. A partial interchange with Weston Road (York Regional Road 56) lies just west of the large four-level stack interchange with Highway 400, the only of its kind in Ontario. An interchange with Jane Street (York Regional Road 55) is interwoven into the east side of the Highway 400 interchange, below which pass the tunnels of the Line 1 Yonge–University subway, with the Highway 407 station (with its large commuter parking lot and GO Transit bus terminal serving the highway corridor) located to the south.^[11][12]

Highway 407 at Woodbine Avenue

Still travelling alongside a power transmission corridor, Highway 407 crosses a complex rail wye which provides access to the CN freight yards to the north. After interchanging with Keele Street (York Regional Road 6), the route gently curves northward, passing under the CN Newmarket Subdivision, which carries the GO Transit Barrie Line and crossing the Don River. It curves back eastward as it interchanges with Dufferin Street (York Regional Road 53), travelling adjacent to and south of Highway 7. After interchanges with Bathurst Street (York Regional Road 38) and Yonge Street (York Regional Road 1), Highway 407 crosses the CN Bala Subdivision, which carries the GO Transit Richmond Hill Line. After an interchange with Bayview Avenue (York Regional Road 34), the highway swerves south and enters Markham. A partial interchange with Leslie Street (York Regional Road 12) precedes the third and final large freeway–freeway junction at Highway 404.^[11][12]

East of Highway 404, the freeway travels generally parallel to the Rouge River. It interchanges with Woodbine Avenue (York Regional Road 8) and Warden Avenue (York Regional Road 65), east of which the route travels alongside a CN line and crosses the GO Transit Unionville Line. Highway 407 continues straight eastward into a residential area, interchanging with Kennedy Road (York Regional Road 3), McCowan Road (York Regional Road 67), and Markham Road (York Regional Road 68), where it crosses the river and diverges from both the CN line and power transmission corridor. The route interchanges with Ninth Line (York Regional Road 69) and Donald Cousens Parkway (York Regional Road 48) before exiting the urban GTA and curving northeast over a CP line and into Rouge Park.^[11][12]

Construction in 2015 of the overpass and off-ramp at Harmony Road in Durham Region, the temporary terminus of the highway from June 20, 2016 until January 2, 2018.

Until the opening of the first phase of 407E in June 2016, the final interchange along Highway 407 was with York–Durham Line (York/Durham Regional Road 30), the boundary between York Region and Durham Region as well as Markham and Pickering.^[11][12] The route curves eastward, then crosses West Duffins Creek north of the community of Whitevale and south of the future Pickering Airport and planned community of Seaton. Sandwiched between farm fields, the highway is crossed by North Road, where a future interchange is planned,^[18] and Sideline 24. Highway 407 ended just south of Brougham at a signalized intersection with Brock Road (Durham Regional Road 1) until the end of 2015, where it continued eastward as Highway 7.^[11][12] A new interchange has been built in conjunction with the provincially-maintained and tolled extension, Highway 407E, which was constructed east of this point, and ties in with the current freeway, eliminating the at-grade intersection.^[19]

Pickering–Oshawa

Sign for the transition between 407 ETR and 407 East, two kilometres west of Brock Road in Pickering.

Immediately east of Brock Road, this tollway falls under the ownership of the Province of Ontario and is now referred to as Ontario Highway 407 (Or Highway 407 East) instead of 407 ETR. This route runs parallel to both Highway 7 and Durham Regional Road 3 (with some crossovers) through the North of Pickering, Whitby, and Oshawa, until its eastern terminus at the proposed interchange between Highway 418 and Taunton Road^[20]. A major interchange of this route includes with Highway 412, which is a spur connecting the 407 with Highway 401 in Whitby. Both the 407 East Extension, as far as Harmony Road in Oshawa and Highway 412 opened to traffic on June 20, 2016.^[21] The highway will be further extended eastward through Clarington by 2020. The tolls along this portion of the highway began on February 1, 2017. ^[22]

Plate denial

As part of the contractual agreement with the government, the MTO is required to deny licence plate validation stickers to drivers who have an outstanding 407 ETR bill over 125 days past due.^[24] This process was temporarily halted in February 2000 due to numerous false billing claims. Following a judicial decision by the Ontario Divisional Court on November 7, 2005, the Ontario Registrar of Motor Vehicles was ordered to begin denying the validation or issue of Canadian license plates and vehicle permits for 407 ETR users who have failed to pay owed fees. On November 22, 2005, the MTO announced that it would appeal the decision but would begin to deny plates until the appeal was decided. On February 24, 2006, the Ontario Court of Appeals denied the government leave to appeal the 2005 decision. As a result, plate denial remains in place.^[25]

Rates

• Users of both 407 ETR and Highways 407E/412/418 only receive one bill invoice, with trips on each highway specified.^[26]
• 407 ETR Transponders are compatible with Highways 407E, 412, and later 418.^[26]

Highway 407 East

Highway 407 East shield in Oshawa

To compensate for opening delays, tolling of both Highways 407E and 412 did not commence until February 2017.^[31] As of February 1, 2017, the following tolls applies for motorists utilizing these tollways. The rate stayed the same in 2018. These tolls will be applied to Highway 418 upon opening:^[32]

Time period	Duty class
	Light[32]		Heavy[32]		Heavy Multi-unit[32]
Peak (weekdays) (6am–10am and 3pm–7pm)	29.00 ¢/km		58.00 ¢/km		87.00 ¢/km
Midday (weekdays) (10am–3pm)	23.00 ¢/km		46.00 ¢/km		69.00 ¢/km
Midday (weekends & holidays) (11am–7pm)	22.00 ¢/km		44.00 ¢/km		66.00 ¢/km
Off-peak (weekdays) (7pm–6am)	19.00 ¢/km		38.00 ¢/km		57.00 ¢/km
Off-peak (weekends & holidays) (7pm–11am)	19.00 ¢/km		38.00 ¢/km		57.00 ¢/km

• All end times displayed are rounded up to the nearest minute for simplicity purposes (i.e. 6am is actually 5:59:59am)
• The toll rate that applies to a specific trip is determined by the time at which a vehicle enters the highway.
• Heavy goods vehicles and lorries are assessed a minimum toll regardless of the length of their trip: $3.00 off peak, $5.00 during peak hours.
• As seen above, the costs of utilizing these provincially owned tollways are less than that of the 407 ETR.
• Light vehicles without transponders may be assessed an additional Video Toll.
• Vehicles weighing over 5,000 kilograms are divided into two categories: Heavy Single Units and Heavy Multiple Units. Heavy Multiple Unit Vehicles will be charged two or three time the passenger rate, depending on the size of the vehicle.^[33]
• All Heavy Unit vehicles are legally required to have transponders in order to use the highways; offenders may be penalized under the Highway Traffic Act.

Planning and initial construction

Although construction of Highway 407 did not begin until 1987, planning for the bypass of Highway 401 north of Toronto began in the late-1950s. Concepts for the new "dual highway" first appeared in the 1959 plan for Metropolitan Toronto.^[3] Land adjacent to several hydro corridors was acquired for the future freeway in the 1960s, but sat vacant as the Ontario Department of Highway (predecessor to the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO)) opted instead to widen Highway 401 to a twelve-lane collector-express system. The Highway 401 expansion project was considered a success and construction of Highway 407 was shelved for almost thirty years. The plan was revisited in the mid-1980s as congestion in Toronto pushed roads beyond capacity. In 1986, Premier David Peterson was given a helicopter tour of the city during rush-hour; construction of the highway was announced soon thereafter, and began in 1987.^[3]

The Ontario government's normal process for highway construction was not possible given the financial constraints of the recession of the early 1990s. The Peterson government sought out private sector partnerships and acquired innovative electronic tolling technology. Two firms bid on the project, with the Canadian Highways International Corporation being selected as the operator of the highway.^[34] Financing for the highway was to be paid by user tolls lasting 35 years, after which it would return to the provincial system as a toll-free 400-series highway.^[13] The succeeding government of Bob Rae announced on March 31, 1995, that the corridor reserved for Highway 403 between Burlington and Oakville would instead be built as a western extension of Highway 407.^[35]

The first segment of Highway 407, between Highway 410 and Highway 404, was ceremoniously opened to traffic on June 7, 1997; no tolls were charged for a month to allow motorists to test-drive the freeway.^[36] Several other sections were well underway at this point. A 13-kilometre (8.1 mi) extension westwards to Highway 401 was opened just months later on December 13, 1997.^[37] That section was connected with Highway 403 to the south on September 4, 1998,^[4] with a temporary two lane ramp connecting to Trafalgar Road.^[38] In the east, an extension to Markham Road, at what was then the southern terminus of Highway 48, was completed in early 1998. However, due to the protest of local residents and officials concerning traffic spill-off (a scenario revisited with the extension to Oshawa^[39]), the freeway was opened only as far as McCowan Road on February 18.^[40] The short segment from McCowan Road to Markham Road remained closed for over a year, as locals feared the funneling of traffic onto Main Street, which is named Markham Road south of the freeway. Both Markham and McCowan were widened to four lanes between Highway 407 and Steeles Avenue at this time. This did not alleviate concerns, but on June 24, 1999, the extension opened to continued protest regardless.^[41]

Privatization and original extensions

407 International Inc. /
407 ETR Concession Company Ltd.

Headquarters	Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Owners	Cintra (43.23%) CPP Investment Board (40%) SNC-Lavalin (16.77%)
Website	www.407etr.com

When Mike Harris was elected Premier in 1995 on his platform of the Common Sense Revolution, the Ontario government faced a $11 billion annual deficit and a $100 billion debt. Seeking to balance the books, a number of publicly owned services were privatized over the following years. Although initially spared, Highway 407 was sold quickly in the year leading up to the 1999 provincial elections. The highway was leased to a conglomerate of private companies for $3.1 billion. The Ontario corporation, known as 407 International Inc., is jointly owned by the Spanish multinational Cintra Infraestructuras (43.23%), as well as various subsidiaries of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (40%) and the Montreal-based engineering firm SNC-Lavalin (16.77%).^[42] The deal included a 99-year lease agreement with unlimited control over the highway and its tolls, dependent on traffic volume; however, the government maintains the right to build a transport system within the highway right-of-way.^[13]

When purchased, the highway travelled from the junction of Highway 403 in Mississauga to Markham Road in Markham. Extensions westward to the QEW and eastward to Highway 7 and Brock Road in Pickering were constructed by the corporation, as mandated in the lease agreement.^[42] The western extension, from Highway 403 southwest to the QEW, was not part of the original Highway 407 concept in 1987; rather, the corridor was originally intended to connect the Hamilton and Mississauga sections of Highway 403. Highway 407 was originally slated to assume the temporary routing for Highway 403 along the Mississauga-Oakville boundary to end at the QEW. However, the Bob Rae led Ontario government altered these plans in 1995,^[35] and the corporation constructed this section quickly upon obtaining the lease. Sections opened throughout the middle of 2001: between Neyagawa Boulevard and Highway 403 on June 17; between Bronte Road and Neyagawa Boulevard on June 29; between Dundas Street and Bronte Road on July 18; and between the Freeman Interchange and Dundas Street on July 30. In the east, a final extension between Markham Road and Highway 7 opened a month later on August 30.^[4]

On October 5, 2010, the Canadian Pension Plan announced that an agreement was reached with the owners of the roadway to purchase 10% stake for $894 million.^[43] This implies a value of close to $9 billion for the highway in its current state. However, in 1998, MPP E. J. Douglas Rollins found that as much as $104 billion had been spent by the province to that point.^[44]

Controversy

Left-hand exiting can potentially cause problems for drivers, such as weaving across traffic to avoid exiting and being billed for accidentally driving on the highway.

Highway 407 ETR has been the subject of several controversies over its two decades of existence. While the privatization of the route and toll rate increases have been routinely criticized by the general public and politicians,^[14][44] cost-savings measures and the ensuing safety concerns resulted in an independent Ontario Provincial Police investigation shortly before the opening of the freeway.^[45] Finally, the public has accused the 407 ETR of predatory billing practices, including false billing and continued plate denial after bankruptcy.^[46][47]

An expert panel of engineers released a report outlining concerns regarding the decreased loop ramp radii and a lack of protective guardrail at sharp curves, in addition to the lack of a concrete median barrier to separate the opposite directions of travel. However, it was also argued that the large grass median was sufficient to prevent cross-over collisions, given that Highway 410 has a similar median.^[45]

The Ontario provincial government has quarrelled with 407 ETR over toll rates and customer service, but is largely tied down by the lease contract. On February 2, 2004, the government delivered notice to 407 ETR that they are considered to be in default of their contract because of 407 ETR's decision to raise toll rates without first obtaining provincial clearance. The court's initial decision sided with 407 ETR: on July 10, 2004, an independent arbitrator affirmed that 407 ETR has the ability to raise toll rates without first consulting the government. The government filed an appeal of this decision but was overruled by an Ontario Superior Court decision released on January 6, 2005; however, a subsequent ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal on June 13, 2005 granted the government permission to appeal the decision.^[48] The government also faced off against 407 ETR in court regarding plate denial around this time.^[25]

Highway 407 East project

Planned routing, including two north-south connector freeways in Durham Region, as part of the eastern extension.

A provincially owned 65-kilometre (40 mi) long extension to the 407 ETR, known as Highway 407 East (or 407E), began construction in 2012, with the project undertaken in two separate phases. Phase 1 was opened on June 20, 2016, consisting of a 22-kilometre (14 mi) extension to Harmony Road in Oshawa, as well as the 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) Highway 412. The extension was free of tolls until February 1, 2017.^[49] Phase 2A, opened January 2, 2018, added a 9.6-kilometre (6.0 mi) extension to Taunton Road at the future Highway 418 interchange.^[50] Phase 2B will add a further 23.3 kilometres (14.5 mi), consisting of an east-west extension from Taunton Road to Highway 35 and Highway 115, as well as Highway 418, the north-south connector to Highway 401; Phase 2B is scheduled for completion in 2020.^[51]

An environmental assessment (EA) to analyze the proposed extension was undertaken in the early 2000s. The assessment also included studies of the two north–south connectors. A preferred route was announced in June 2007,^[52] and the EA was completed in June 2009. On March 6, 2007, as part of the FLOW initiative, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario confirmed the extension of the 407 to Highway 35 and Highway 115 in Clarington, including the connector highways, with an announced completion date of 2013.^[53] On January 27, 2009, the provincial government announced that the extension would be a tolled highway but owned by the province and with tolls set by the province. The announcement also indicated that the province expected to issue a Request for Proposals later in the year.^[54] The contract, which is valued at $1.6 billion and includes construction and operation of the highway, was eventually awarded to the same consortium that owns 407 ETR.^[46][55]

A bridge under construction along Highway 7 west of Brooklin in 2012; this was the first project along the new extension.
 

On June 9, 2010, the MTO approved the extension as far east as Simcoe Street in Oshawa, announcing plans to phase construction of the extension. Local residents and politicians rejected the plan, as had happened with the section between McCowan Road and Markham Road.^[39][40] A motion was proposed in the Ontario Legislature to build the full extension in one project, but failed to pass. Instead, a compromise was issued on March 10, 2011: the first phase would extend Highway 407 to Harmony Road in Oshawa by 2015, including Highway 412; the second phase would then complete the extension to Highway 35 / 115 by 2020, including Highway 418.^[56] This timeline was confirmed by Premier Dalton McGuinty on May 24, 2012,^[51] and construction began in the first quarter of 2013.^[57]

ON 407's extension in June 2016, before its opening

In early December 2015, it was announced that contractor delays would push the opening of the first phase from December 18 to the spring of 2016.^[58] The extension did not open until the morning of June 20, 2016, in the last hours of Spring 2016.^[21]