Major Mackenzie Drive
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{{Sources exist|date=July 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2024}}
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{{Infobox street
| name = Major Mackenzie Drive
| marker_image = File:Major Mackenzie Drive West street sign.png
File:York Regional Road 25.svg
| other_name = York Regional Road 25
| image =
| image_size = 220px
| map = Major Mackenzie Drive route map.png
| map_caption = Route of Major Mackenzie Drive across York Region (blue line)
| maint = Region of York
| length_km = 40.4
| length_mi =
|namesake=Addison Alexander MacKenzie
| length_notes =
| location = York Region (Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham)
| direction_a = West
| terminus_a = 15px (Former) Highway 50 In Brampton
(Continues north as Coleraine Drive into Brampton)
| direction_b = East
| terminus_b = 18px File:Durham Regional Road 30.svg York-Durham Line
| junction = {{jcon|Hwy|427}}
15px (Former) Highway 27
Kipling Avenue
File:York Regional Road 17.svg Islington Avenue
File:York Regional Road 56.svg Weston Road
{{jcon|Hwy|400}}
File:York Regional Road 55.svg Jane Street
File:York Regional Road 6.svg Keele Street
File:York Regional Road 53.svg Dufferin Street
File:York Regional Road 38.svg Bathurst Street
File:York Regional Road 1.svg Yonge Street
File:York Regional Road 34.svg Bayview Avenue
File:York Regional Road 12.svg Leslie Street
{{jcon|Hwy|404}}
15px Woodbine Avenue
File:York Regional Road 65.svg Warden Avenue
File:York Regional Road 3.svg Kennedy Road
File:York Regional Road 67.svg McCowan Road
File:York Regional Road 68.svg Markham Road
File:York Regional Road 48.svg Donald Cousens Parkway
| inauguration_date =
| demolition_date =
| browse = {{Nearby arterials|next= Teston Road /
Elgin Mills Road|previous= Rutherford Road /
Carrville Road /
16th Avenue
}}
}}
Major Mackenzie Drive, often shortened to Major Mac,{{Cite web |title=Tex-Mex Food in Major Mac & Vellore Park, Vaughan |url=https://www.barburrito.ca/location/vaughan-major-mackenzie-vellore-park/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=BarBurrito |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=March 26, 2024 |title=RECOMMENDATION REPORT 404 Major Mac West Developments Limited |url=https://pub-markham.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=85473 |website=pub-markham.escribemeetings.com}} is a major east-west arterial road in southern York Region, Ontario, Canada, just north of Toronto. It is a York regional road, numbered as York Regional Road 25, and passes through the three cities of southern York Region: Vaughan, Ontario, Richmond Hill, and Markham. It does not continue outside of York Region as an east-west road, but does cross into Brampton (in Peel Region) as Coleraine Drive which immediately curves sharply at the boundary to head north towards Bolton.
Name
The road was named after Major Addison Alexander MacKenzie, a former local politician and World War I veteran.{{Cite book |last=Filey |first=Mike |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vNAxdSmUg-MC&dq=%22Major+Mackenzie+Drive%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA259 |title=Toronto Sketches 6: The Way We Were |publisher=Dundurn |isbn=978-1-4597-1303-1 |page=259 |chapter=Major MacKenzie's Home Now Part of Pioneer Past |date=September 13, 1998 |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://archivesfa.library.yorku.ca/fonds/ON00370-f0000347.htm|title=F0347 - Major Addison Alexander Mackenzie fonds|website=Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections, York University }}{{Cite news |last=Yeung |first=Tony Yeung |date=2013-02-21 |title=Major Mackenzie Dr. honours famous soldier: Street names |url=https://www.thestar.com/life/major-mackenzie-dr-honours-famous-soldier-street-names/article_6f6b1d61-1ece-553a-9419-7bfee2ba348c.html |access-date=2024-07-22 |newspaper=Toronto Star |language=en}}
History
The road was laid out during the planning by early settlers in the region to divide the land into farms. Much of the farmland is now gone, as residential development expands in York Region towards the north.
Communities
Major MacKenzie Drive stretches across Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham. Here are some nearby communities it runs through:
=Vaughan=
- Maple
- Kleinburg
- Woodbridge
- Patterson
- Thornhill Woods
=Richmond Hill=
- Richmond Hills proper
- Oak Ridges
- Yongehurst
- Beverley Acres
- Headford
=Markham=
- Victoria Square
- Cathedraltown
- Cachet
- Berczy Village
- Wismer Commons
- Mount Joy
- Greensborough
Road information
- Transportation: Mainly YRT Routes 4 and 25, Major Mackenzie Viva Terminal on the Viva Blue line
- Attractions: Kortright Conservation Area, Canada's Wonderland, Eagle's Nest golf course, Angus Glen golf course, Rouge Park
=Road status=
- Zoning: Mainly low density residential in Vaughan and Markham, some developing, medium density in Richmond Hill,
- Speed: Anywhere from 50–80 km/h with 60 km/h being the most common,
Future
There are plans for a future connection between Major Mackenzie Drive and Mayfield Road in Brampton.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brampton.ca/EN/Business/planning-development/projects-studies/Documents/SP47%20PIC%20Boards%20June%2027%202012%20FINAL%20(2).pdf|title=HIGHWAY 427 INDUSTRIAL SECONDARY PLAN (AREA 47) TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN STUDY|publisher=City of Brampton|accessdate=2024-07-21}} The project is part of the Highway 427 Extension Area Transportation Master Plan, which aims to improve traffic flow and connectivity in the area.{{Cite web |title=Arterial Roads within Highway 427 Industrial Secondary Plan Area (Area 47) Part A - Region of Peel |url=https://www.peelregion.ca/pw/transportation/construction/environmental-assessment/arterial-roads-hwy-427.asp |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Region of Peel}}{{cite web|url=https://www.brampton.ca/EN/Business/planning-development/projects-studies/Documents/SP47%20PIC%20Boards%20June%2027%202012%20FINAL%20(2).pdf | title=SP47 PIC Boards June 27 2012 FINAL (2) Public Information Centre Highway 427 Industrial Secondary Plan (Area 47) Transportation Master Plan Study |date=June 27, 2012|website=City of Brampton}} The new roadway is designated as Arterial A2 in the plan and will be a six-lane north-south connection.{{cite web|url=https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQeb1nJkiHACF6BczAuS-TYPs_hpr_qscM_wA&s|title=map of northeast corner of Brampton showing proposed A2 arterial road}} However, a specific construction timeline has not been announced yet.{{cite web | url=https://www.peelregion.ca/transportation/plans-studies/highway-427-extension-project/ | title=Highway 50 widening and roadways in the Highway 427 extension area - Regional Government - Region of Peel }}