Toronto's 401: Busiest Freeway in North America

[johnathan]

I will be moving from Montreal to Toronto this summer, and am wondering if anyone knows which days are the 'truck days' where the heavy truck traffic is highest along the 401. I'd like to work my moving date around that!

Thanks!

~S.

[johnathan]

How did this come about? Was the 401 planned to be this wide? or did the provincial government acquire lots of property to add lanes upon lanes as they deemed necessary?

[punchbuggy]

It's interesting too that Toronto's suburbs just "end", with rural beyond. Not a lot of exurban development. You can really notice it here along 407 on Google maps. And in THIS shot too just North of the previous area. I wonder if Toronto has an urban growth boundary?

Toronto's suburban density is unbelievable, with high-rise apartments/condos dotting the skyline everywhere you look.

Stupid question: When you're coming into Toronto on 401 from Michigan, off to the East is almost a mountainous area with a large shelf/cliff of what looks like sandstone or something. Anyone know what that is?

[punchbuggy]

some of you might find this site a tad intersting.

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller...era/camhome.htm

it is the ministry's site that tracks traffic conditions on the 401 in toronto (live camera pictures).

[punchbuggy]

some of you might find this site a tad intersting.

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller...era/camhome.htm

it is the ministry's site that tracks traffic conditions on the 401 in toronto (live camera pictures).

[MrHomz]

Trucks aren't allowed to be on provincial highways on the weekend (though a few creep through anyway) so the best time is on Sat/Sun.

The problem with this however is that if you are moving on a Sun. during the Summer, you'd rather go during the week when there aren't all the cottage commuters returning to Toronto.

Another thing to consider: Rush Hour in Toronto: 6:00 - 9:30 am, 2:30 - 6:30 pm. On Fridays, afternoon rush hour is from 1:00pm on to at least 8:00pm, depending on the highway you are on, and is especially consistent during the Summer. These hours are subjective.

[MrHomz]

Now that's a road.

[MrHomz]

not sure why exactly... but as far as i know, no canadian roads are concrete... it was always weird as a kid driving across the border because the interstates were mainly concrete...

[johnathan]

I work for a transportation company...and I have yet to be informed of trucks not being permitted to travel down provincial highways on weekends. In fact you will see the MTO scales open more often on a Saturday than on a Thursday or any day through the week - it's simply too busy as of late to have them open in peak travel areas at peak times or else it would cause even more backups. The weekend thing I am positive is more of an urban legend than anything. Those Flying J Truck stops still get alot of business on weekends!

[maddawg5]

Toronto does not represent Canada. So doesn't the 401. It's sure to be the world's busiest

highway because I was there on it last night at 2:00 AM Eastern Time and traffic was still very bad like it was morning rush

hour.

[maddawg5]

It's interesting too that Toronto's suburbs just "end", with rural beyond. Not a lot of exurban development. You can really notice it here along 407 on Google maps. And in THIS shot too just North of the previous area. I wonder if Toronto has an urban growth boundary?

Toronto's suburban density is unbelievable, with high-rise apartments/condos dotting the skyline everywhere you look.

Stupid question: When you're coming into Toronto on 401 from Michigan, off to the East is almost a mountainous area with a large shelf/cliff of what looks like sandstone or something. Anyone know what that is?

Answers:

Toronto's urban growth boundaries are Major Mackenzie Rd and Markham By-Pass in Markham, Taunton Rd/Steeles Ave in Ajax, Whitby, and Oshawa, and Major Mackenzie Rd in Vaughan, and Mayfield Rd in Brampton.

[The Voice of Reason]

WOW! I commute on a 10 lane Highway not counting the 2 HOV lanes or exits (I-84 east of Hartford CT). Its not overwhelming, but It is a busy and large road. Not so sure I would like the commute on the 401, and I grew up on Long Island where we invented the superhighway (495)

[totheskies]

Wow , that's just too huge for words!!

I think that among Houston freeways, there is one stretch near downtown of 16 lanes in four segments, but it is very brief (0.25 mile). US- 59 has 16 total lanes at the intersection with 610 around the Galleria. I think the "winner for Houston is the newly constructed portion of 610 between I-10 and US 290. 17 total lanes... five main lanes on each direction, 3 feeders on one side, two feeders on the other, and two floating HOVs.