Ontario Highway 406

From 1987 until 2015, Highway 406 was unique as the only 400-series highway with two lane sections and with an at-grade rail crossing. The highway is heavily travelled within St. Catharines, but volumes drop considerably south of the city. Since late 2024,{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Codi |date=July 12, 2024 |title=Higher speed limits are now in effect on stretches of 400-series highways in Ontario |url=https://www.cp24.com/news/higher-speed-limits-are-now-in-effect-on-stretches-of-400-series-highways-in-ontario-1.6961451 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |publisher=CP24 |type=News Release}} the speed limit on Highway 406 varies from {{convert|80|km/h|abbr=on}} to {{convert|110|km/h|abbr=on|mph}}, with {{Convert|110|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} being on the {{Convert|13|km|mi|abbr=on}} stretch between Thorold and Welland.{{Cite web |last=Brasier |first=Dakota |last2=Blazina |first2=Tanya |date=April 24, 2024 |title=Ontario Raising Highway Speed Limits |url=https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1004476/ontario-raising-highway-speed-limits |access-date=September 30, 2024 |publisher=Ministry of Transportation of Ontario |type=Press Release}} The highway is patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police.

The 406 designation begins at East Main Street in Welland at a roundabout immediately west of East Main Street Tunnel beneath the Welland Canal. From here the now-four-lane divided road veers northeast and travels parallel to the canal. Two golf courses separate the canal. As the highway passes to the west of them, it jogs to the west and crosses a Trillium Railway spur (formerly at-grade, now over the railway), and meets Daimler Parkway and Woodlawn Road at a newly constructed interchange. Soon after, it crosses the Welland River and then the former channel of the canal, which was replaced by the current Welland By-Pass in the 1970s.

The highway curves to the northwest as it passes through thick forest, and meets another newly built interchange with Merritt Road (formerly Highway 58), which as of 2009 was being rebuilt as a grade-separated interchange.{{cite news

| title = Widening Highway 406 Starts With New Thorold Bridge

| publisher = Government of Ontario

| date = September 4, 2009

| url = http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2009/09/widening-highway-406-starts-with-new-thorold-bridge.html

| access-date = April 26, 2011}}

After this, it returns to its northward orientation and passes the final former at-grade intersection, Niagara Regional Road 63 (Port Robinson Road).

File:Highway 406 St Catharines 1.jpg

North of Port Robinson Road, the forests break and the freeway continues straight north for {{convert|7|km|abbr=on}} through a mostly agricultural area. Along the straightaway are interchanges with former Highway 20 and Niagara Regional Road 67 (Beaverdams Road). The freeway crosses over Lake Gibson, and curves to the northeast. It passes beneath Niagara Regional Road 71 (St. Davids Road) and Highway 58 at a complicated interchange as it descends the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve,{{cite web

| title = UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Designation

| publisher = Niagara Escarpment Commission

| url = http://www.escarpment.org/biosphere/designation/index.php

| access-date = December 12, 2011

| archive-date = December 14, 2011

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111214083918/http://www.escarpment.org/biosphere/designation/index.php

| url-status = dead

}} and enters St. Catharines.

File:Lonely S (18976521999).jpg in St. Catharines]]

Within St. Catharines, Highway 406 twists frequently, entering the Twelve Mile Creek valley south of a complicated interchange with Westchester Avenue and Geneva Street and curving west. Within the valley, the freeway features a lower design speed and reduced speed limit of {{convert|80|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.{{cite news

|title = Slow Down on the 406, OPP Says

|first = Grant

|last = Lafleche

|publisher = Sun Media

|work = The Standard

|location = St. Catharines

|date = January 25, 2011

|page = A3

|url = http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2943867&archive=true|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130115184323/http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2943867&archive=true|url-status = dead|archive-date = January 15, 2013

|access-date = December 14, 2011

}}

It passes beneath the high-level St. Paul Street bridge, crosses the creek and intersects Fourth Avenue. Exiting the creek valley, the freeway parallels Fourth Avenue for a {{convert|1|km}}, gradually curves to the north and ends {{convert|3|km|abbr=on}} to the north, ending at a trumpet interchange with the QEW.

Planning for Highway 406 began in early 1959, when Minister of Highways Fred M. Cass presented the Ontario Roads and Streets report to the Ontario Legislative Assembly on March 16, outlining highways needs for the province over 20 years. One of the planned routes was a freeway to link Highway 3 in Port Colborne with the QEW, travelling alongside the Welland Canal. By 1961, route studies and planning were well underway.{{cite book

| title = Annual Report

| publisher = Department of Highways

| date = March 31, 1961

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ngAjAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Highway%20406%22

| access-date = July 29, 2011}}

The future route was designated as Highway 406 despite construction not beginning until 1963;{{cite web

| title = Highway 406 - Niagara Greenbelt

| publisher = Tourism Niagara

| url = http://www.niagaragreenbelt.com/listings/97-transportation/792-highway-406.html

| access-date = November 30, 2011

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150817053616/http://www.niagaragreenbelt.com/listings/97-transportation/792-highway-406.html

| archive-date = August 17, 2015

| url-status = dead

}}{{cite news

| title = Search Engine: Highway Mysteries Solved

| first = Karena

| last = Walter

| work = The Niagara Falls Review

| date = February 21, 2014

| url = http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2014/02/21/search-engine-highway-mysteries-solved

| access-date = April 19, 2014

| archive-date = April 20, 2014

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140420050917/http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2014/02/21/search-engine-highway-mysteries-solved

| url-status = dead

}}

the first section, between Geneva Street and St. Davids Road, opened December 7, 1965. This was followed several years later by an extension south to Beaverdams Road, which opened November 21, 1969.{{cite book

| title = A.A.D.T. Traffic Volumes 1955–1969 And Traffic Collision Data 1967–1969

| publisher = Ontario Department of Highways

| year = 1970

| page = 12}}

During the early 1970s, the highway was extended south as a Super 2 to north of the Welland River, where it curved west along Merritt Road and became Highway 58.{{cite map

| title = Southern Terminus of Highway 406 in 1986

| cartography = United States Geological Survey

| publisher = Microsoft

| date = July 1, 1986

| url = http://msrmaps.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=13&Z=17&X=402&Y=2978&W=1

| access-date = July 29, 2010}}{{cite book

| title = The Welland Canals and their communities

| first = John N

| last = Jackson

| publisher = University of Toronto Press

| year = 1997

| isbn = 0-8020-0933-6

| page = 447

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=o-sI64yldu4C&q=Highway+406&pg=PA447

| access-date = April 26, 2011}}

This extension, which included the Beaverdams Road interchange and a signalized intersection, was opened on June 30, 1971.{{cite press release

| title = Highway 406 Press Release

| author = Information Services

| publisher = Department of Transportation and Communications

| date = June 28, 1971}}{{cite map

| title = Ontario Road Map

| cartography = Photogrammetry Office

| publisher = Department of Transportation and Communications

| year = 1972

| section = M–N23}}

File:Highway.406.train.jpg. This crossing was later eliminated and grade separated in 2014 when the route was finally upgraded to freeway standards.]]

In 1977, construction began on the section of Highway 406 between Geneva Street and the QEW.{{cite book

| title = Highway Construction Program: King's and Secondary Highways

| publisher = Ministry of Transportation and Communications

| year = 1980–1981

| page = XV}}

This work included the construction of several large bridges over the widened ravine, a curving structure over Twelve Mile Creek, and the first single-point urban interchange (SPUI) in Ontario (the only other SPUI is located on Airport Parkway in Ottawa). The original design plans for Highway 406 called for this section to follow the creek valley the full distance to the QEW, interchanging with it east of Martindale Road. Instead, the alignment was moved west of the city. Realignments to several streets in St. Catharines were completed in advance of construction on overpasses, ramps and the bridges over Twelve Mile Creek; this work was finished in late 1983.{{cite journal

| title = Provincial Highways Construction Projects

| journal = Northern Transportation, Construction Projects

| publisher = Ministry of Transportation and Communications

| year = 1983–1984

| page = XII

| issn = 0714-1149}}

Grading contracts were awarded in mid-1983 for the entire extension. Paving took place during the summer of 1984, and the route was opened to traffic in October 1984.{{cite journal

| title = The Twelve Mile Creek Precast Prestressed Segmental Bridges

| journal = PCI Journal

| publisher = Prestressed Concrete Institute

| year = 1984

| volume = 29

| issue = 1

| page = 46

| doi = 10.15554/pcij.11011984.30.47

| url = https://www.pci.org/PCI_Docs/Publications/PCI%20Journal/1984/November/The%20Twelve%20Mile%20Creek%20Precast%20Prestressed%20Segmental%20Bridges.pdf

| access-date = December 1, 2022

| quote = The bridges were opened to traffic in October 1984 on completion of Highway 406 to the Queen Elizabeth Way

| last1 = Bassi

| first1 = Kris G.

| last2 = Lin

| first2 = Watone L.

| last3 = Ai-Bazi

| first3 = George

| last4 = Ramakko

| first4 = Osmo E.

}}{{cite book

| title = Highway Construction Program: King's and Secondary Highways

| publisher = Ministry of Transportation and Communications

| year = 1984–1985

| page = IX}}

Further work to extend Highway 406 as a Super two south towards East Main Street in Welland began during the fall of 1987, including an eastward extension of Woodlawn Road. Construction of the bridges that carry the extension over the Welland River and old canal began in mid-1988, and was completed during the fall of 1989. Work then began to grade and pave the Woodlawn Road Extension to Highway 406, which intersected with traffic signals. Grading and paving of Highway 406 also took place from Woodlawn Road to the route's southern terminus at East Main Street, which was also a signalized intersection. The extension was completed by the mid-1990s.{{cite journal

| title = Highway Construction Program: King's and Secondary Highways

| journal = Northern Transportation, Construction Projects

| publisher = Ministry of Transportation

| year = 1991–1992

| page = 6

| issn = 0714-1149}}

File:South end of ON 406.png]]

Highway 406 was the last 400-series highway that featured at-grade intersections and two lane sections.{{cite map

| title = Ontario Road Map

| cartography = Geomatics Department

| publisher = Ministry of Transportation of Ontario

| year = 2009

| url = http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/map/

| access-date = December 16, 2011}}

The original intention was to twin this two-lane section shortly after it was constructed in the 1970s. Plans were deferred multiple times, until the project resumed in the early 2000s.{{cite news

|title = 406 Needs Drive

|publisher = Quebecor Media

|work = Niagara Falls Review

|date = May 2008

|url = http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/PrintArticle.aspx?e=1030232

|access-date = December 16, 2011

}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The first phase of this twinning opened to traffic in 2007, extending the four-lane highway {{convert|5.6|km|abbr=on}} from its previous convergence south of Beaverdams Road to a point north of Port Robinson Road.{{cite report

|title = Southern highways Program

|publisher = Ministry of Transportation of Ontario

|section = 2007 Highlights & Completed Construction

|year = 2008

|url = http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/highway-construction/southern-highway-2008/partB.shtml

|access-date = December 26, 2011

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120316084230/http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/highway-construction/southern-highway-2008/partB.shtml

|archive-date = March 16, 2012

}}

On May 15 2009, Minister of Transportation Jim Bradley announced that the section from Port Robinson road to East Main Street in Welland would be converted to a full freeway;{{cite news

|title = Bradley Announces 406 Widening

|publisher = Sun Media

|work = St. Catharines Standard

|date = May 16, 2009

|url = http://stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1571680

|access-date = April 26, 2011

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120323135320/http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1571680

|archive-date = March 23, 2012

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}

this work included a roundabout at East Main Street to replace the existing signalized intersection.{{cite news

| title = Highway 406 Extension 'On Hold' While Niagara-GTA Corridor Plays Out

| first = Paul

| last = Forsyth

| publisher = Metroland Media

| work = Niagara This Week

| date = December 17, 2008

| url = http://www.niagarathisweek.com/niagarathisweek/article/191455

| access-date = December 12, 2011

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120525125041/http://www.niagarathisweek.com/niagarathisweek/article/191455

| archive-date= 25 May 2012}}

Work on the Merritt Road overpass began in September 2009, and was scheduled for completion in mid-2011.{{cite news

|title = Work on Hwy. 406 Overpass Set to Resume in February

|first = Maryanne

|last = Firth

|publisher = Sun Media

|work = Welland Tribune

|date = January 27, 2011

|url = http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=2279985

|access-date = April 26, 2011

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110706212609/http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=2279985

|archive-date = 2011-07-06

|url-status = dead

}}

On August 19, 2011, full construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony.{{cite news

| title = 406 Widening Underway

| first = Paul

| last = Forsyth

| publisher = Metroland Media

| work = Niagara This Week

| date = August 19, 2011

| url = http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/article/1059500--406-widening-underway

| access-date = December 12, 2011

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120529042257/http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/article/1059500--406-widening-underway

| archive-date= 29 May 2012}}

The roundabout with East Main Street opened to traffic on September 5, 2013, featuring no central island. The existing signalized junction at Woodlawn Road was repurposed for the southbound off-ramp and on-ramp, as continuous Highway 406 traffic was rerouted upon new overpasses. By September 2015, all the at-grade intersections had been removed and Highway 406 was a minimum four-lane, controlled-access freeway for its entire length.{{cite news

|title = New 406 Roundabout Draws Spectators

|author = The Tribune

|publisher = Sun Media

|work = Welland Tribune

|date = September 5, 2013

|url = http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2013/09/05/live-new-406-roundabout-draws-spectators

|access-date = September 5, 2013

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140926024121/http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2013/09/05/live-new-406-roundabout-draws-spectators

|archive-date = September 26, 2014

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}

Despite requests from local politicians, there are no plans to extend Highway 406 to Port Colborne at this time.

{{ONinttop|exit|unnum=no|division=Niagara|length_ref=|override=Highway 406's northern terminus is tied at the QEW, whereas the southern terminus has been relocated in various proposals. As a result, exits were unconventionally numbered from north to south. The entirety of Highway 406 is located within the Regional Municipality of Niagara.{{cite map

| title = Ontario Back Road Atlas

| year = 2010

| publisher = Peter Heiler

| cartography = MapArt

| page = 19

| section = R33–T34

| isbn = 978-1-55198-226-7}}}}

{{ONint

| location = St. Catharines

| lspan = 5

| km = 0.0

| exit = —

| road = {{jcon|Hwy|QEW|city=Niagara|city2=Toronto}}

| notes = QEW exit 49; Highway 406 northern terminus

}}

{{ONint

| km = 3.9

| exit = 4

| road = {{jcon|Niagara|77|Fourth Avenue|sign=hospital}}

| notes = SPUI Interchange; to Niagara Health – St. Catharines Site

}}

{{ONint|incomplete

| km = 6.0

| km2 = 6.3

| uspan = 2

| exit = 6

| espan = 2

| road = {{jcon|Niagara|46|Geneva Street}}

| notes = Northbound exit and entrance; signed as exit 6B northbound

}}

{{ONint|incomplete

| km = none

| road = {{jcon|Niagara|91|Westchester Avenue}}

| notes = No northbound entrance; signed as exit 6A northbound; to {{jcon|Niagara|81|nosh=y|former {{jcon|Hwy|8|nosh=y}}}}

}}

{{ONint

| km = 9.4

| exit = 9

| road = {{jcon|Niagara|89|Glendale Avenue}}

| notes =

}}

{{ONint

| location_special = Thorold–{{nowrap|St. Catharines}} boundary

| lspan = 2

| km = 11.5

| km2 = 12.0

| uspan = 2

| exit = 10

| road = {{jcon|Hwy|58|to=QEW|dir=south|city=Thorold|city2=Niagara Falls}}

| notes = Signed exit 11B northbound

}}

{{ONint

| km = none

| exit = 11

| road = {{jcon|Niagara|71|St. David's Road, Sir Issac Brock Parkway}}

| notes = Signed as exits 11A (west) and 11B (east) southbound and exit 11A northbound

}}

{{ONint

| location_special = Thorold

| lspan = 3

| km = 14.2

| exit = 14

| road = {{jcon|Niagara|67|Beaverdams Road}}

| notes =

}}

{{ONint

| km = 17.4

| exit = 17

| road = {{jcon|Niagara|20|city=Niagara Falls|city2=Fonthill}}

| notes = Formerly {{jct|province=ON|Hwy|20|Hwy|58|dir2=north|noshield=y}}; northern end of former Highway 58 concurrency

}}

{{ONint

| km = 22.0

| exit = 21

| road = {{jcon|Niagara|37|Merritt Road|town=Holland}}

| notes = Formerly {{jcon|Hwy|58|dir=south|nosh=y}}; southern end of former Highway 58 concurrency

}}

{{Jctbridge|exit

| location_special = Welland–Thorold boundary

| km = 22.4

| bridge = Crosses Welland River and Old Welland Canal

}}

{{ONint

| location_special = Welland

| lspan = 2

| km = 24.0

| exit = 23

| road = {{jcon|Niagara|41|Woodlawn Road/Daimler Parkway}}

| notes =

}}

{{ONint

| km = 26.0

| exit = 26

| road = {{jcon|Niagara|27|totype=Hwy|to=140|East Main Street|city=Welland|city2=Port Colborne}}

| notes = former Signalised intersection converted into a roundabout on September 5, 2013. Highway 406 southern terminus; to Main Street Tunnel; unsigned {{jcon|Hwy|7146|dir=west|nosh=y}}

}}

{{jctbtm|keys=incomplete}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/Hwy406_images.htm Highway 406 images @ AsphaltPlanet.ca]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130423022642/http://hwy406expansion.ca/ Highway 406 expansion]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq83UI4Oszk Video of Highway 406 northbound, showcasing the roundabout in Welland]
• [http://niagaratraffic.ca/406/ Highway 406 live traffic cameras]

{{Ontario Controlled Access Highways}}

{{Ontario King's Highways}}

{{good article}}

06

Category:Roads in the Regional Municipality of Niagara

Category:Thorold

Category:Transport in St. Catharines

Category:Transport in Welland