Sunday, May 4, 2008

King's Highway 404

The highway over this bridge – King’s Highway 404 - is the main reason East Gwillimbury is rapidly transforming from a rural town into a bedroom community. Currently, the highway ends (or begins) on the boundary between Newmarket and EG, extending northerly from Highway 401 in Toronto 36 kilometres (22 miles) to EG -- or from Downtown Toronto 53 kilometres (34 miles).

As you can see, the 404 is about to invade move into EG. When entering the 404 from East Gwillimbury, the 404 is four lanes wide. But in Toronto, it’s an eight-lane highway (four lanes each way). Eight lanes and yet it's a major bottleneck where it joins the 401. You know those 404 error messages your computer sometimes sends you? Commuters have been known to compare Highway 404 to them.

The highway’s exit/entrance numbers are based on their distance from Downtown Toronto, even though the first exit/entrance is at Highway 401 and numbered 17. Currently, the last exit is number 53.

Theoretically, if you drive the posted speed (100 kph or 60 mph) from exit 53 south, you should reach Downtown Toronto in about 35 minutes. 404 ERROR!! Don’t forget to figure in the bottleneck at the 401!

To learn about all kinds of bridges, visit RuneE

25 comments:

dot said...

For someone like me who doesn't do city driving it sounds like a nightmare!

Tanya Breese said...

I'm with Dot! Sometimes growth isn't always a good thing!

Anne said...

Oh my g... Everything is big in the US wee use to say here in Norway..., also this brigde...

Nice of you to let ous know, and let ous learn about this bridge.

Nice day to you.

Rune Eide said...

A highly original twist - a 404 bridge! So now I know where all those errors come from...

Tom said...

And they call such things 'Progress'..

Gerald (SK14) said...

I didn't know that about the junction numbering system so that's something I've learnt today as well as a bit more about your local topography.

Pernille said...

OMG! I will not drive there;) Here where I live the road takes only 2 cars. One each way:)

Have a nice day:)

FO - 2 said...

It`s massive! BIG!
Massive mess......
My bridge is a little bit smaller.... ;)

You can find it
here

Texas Travelers said...

I like the photos.
Interesting story and info.
Great Bridge post.
And I love the 404 Error.

My bridge is built.
Come visit,
Troy

Anonymous said...

Here in Portugal we say that if you can drive in Oporto, you can drive anywhere.
But that's not true. They should try Paris in rush hour ...
Solid bridges those!

Anonymous said...

I love my country roads. I don't miss the city traffic at all.
Good photos of it all.

GundaM said...

Wowbig and urban;)

Have a nice week!,

Daniel J Santos said...

excellent post, well done and great images.

Chrissy said...

Don't you just hate it when the city invades the country....

imac said...

Interesting info and great bridge.

Come visit my bridge of no return.

FANCY said...

That was something who did not get ERROR in my eyes...That is huge...;-)

EG CameraGirl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
EG CameraGirl said...

Chrisss,

Yes I do hate it when city invades the country. It seems the city folk are moving here because they love the idea of country life, then they try to change everything to like it was where they came from. YIKES! What are they thinking?

Anne-Berit said...

Interesting to learn about your big bridge.Have a nice day:o)

Marie said...

Interesting post!

Ken said...

You got to love progress.

ANNA-LYS said...

404 bridge *lol* that is a new take! ;-))

9na said...

Beautiful pictures!!! I would like to visit your bridge..!

Unknown said...

This is a great bridge post! Nice pics too.

Katney said...

Progress! Can't live with it, can't live without it.

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.