King's Highway 404

City of Toronto

Northbound signage for the off-ramp to Sheppard Avenue. The northbound off-ramp to Sheppard Avenue leaves the highway shortly after the ramp from the westbound lanes of the 401 have joined the northbound carriageway.
Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

City of Toronto

View looking southerly towards the Highway 401 overpass from Sheppard Avenue. A short collector-distributor (C-D) lane was constructed in the vicinity of Sheppard Avenue between 2002 and 2007. Separating through and local movements in this fashion improves traffic flow. Click here for this same view taken in April, 2004.
Photo taken: May 15th, 2008.

City of Toronto

Northerly view of Highway 404 from Sheppard Avenue. Through Toronto, Highway 404 has an four general purpose lanes and a single HOV lane in each direction.

Photo taken: May 15th, 2008.

City of Toronto

Overhead signs mounted to the Sheppard Avenue overpass. Blue signage has been used to differentiate the short collector lanes that run through the Sheppard Avenue interchange.

Photo taken: August 4th, 2013.

City of Toronto

Overhead signage for the ramp to Highway 401. Highway 401 is the southernmost interchange along Highway 404.

Photo taken: August 4th, 2013.

City of Toronto

Overhead signage, this time for the southbound off-ramp to Sheppard Avenue. The Sheppard Avenue interchange is located extremely close to the large Highway 401 interchange. Modern highway designers in Ontario tend not to locate interchanges in such close proximity to each other on newer highways, as tight interchange spacing is often a major cause of traffic congestion.
Photo taken: August 4th, 2013.

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City of Toronto

The northbound advanced signage for the Finch Avenue overpass is affixed the parapet of the Van Horne overpass.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

City of Toronto

Looking south from Van Horne Avenue.

Photo taken: May 15th, 2008.

City of Toronto

The northbound HOV lane begins about halfway between the Van Horne and Finch Avenue overpasses.

Photo taken: May 15th, 2008.

City of Toronto

Overhead signs affixed to the Van Horne Avenue overpass.

Photo taken: August 4th, 2013.

City of Toronto

Overhead guide signage marking the northbound start of the HOV lane south of Finch Avenue. The northbound HOV lane along the 404 opened July 23rd, 2007, about 8 months after the southbound HOV lane started carrying traffic.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

City of Toronto

Northbound signage at the ramp to Finch Avenue.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

City of Toronto

Southbound view from the Finch Avenue overpass.

Photo taken: May 15th, 2008.

City of Toronto

View looking northerly from the Finch Avenue overpass. Notice the shielding surrounding each of the high mast luminaries -- shielding is intended to reduce light pollution, keeping light centred over MTO's right of way.

Photo taken: May 15th, 2008.

City of Toronto

Southbound signage at the off-ramp to Finch Avenue. Notice that HOV traffic destined for Highway 401 east must exit the HOV lane here to use the mainline ramp to the 401. There is a direct ramp linking the southbound 404 to Highway 401 west. The diagram replaced the former pre-existing signage late in the spring of 2015.

Upper photo taken: August 4th, 2013.

Lower photo taken: November 2nd, 2015.

City of Toronto

Northbound advanced signage for the Woodbine Avenue interchange.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

City of Toronto

View looking south from McNichol Avenue.

Photo taken: May 15th, 2008.

City of Toronto

Notherly views from McNichol towards the Steeles/Woodbine Avenue interchange. In Toronto, Highway 404 is constructed overtop of Woodbine Avenue's former alignment.

Upper photo taken: May 15th, 2008.

Lower photo taken: June 26th, 2012.

City of Toronto

Overhead signage this time affixed to the McNichol Avenue overpass.

Photo taken: August 4th, 2013.

City of Toronto

Northbound overhead signage for the Steeles Avenue interchange with advanced signage for the Highway 407 interchange. Woodbine Avenue was one of the first county roads to be paved northerly from Toronto when York County was still predominantly rural countryside.
Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013

City of Toronto

Southerly view from the flyover that carries southbound Woodbine Avenue traffic to the southbound 404. This photo was taken at the height of a Friday afternoon rush hour. The directional bias of rush hour traffic in suburban Toronto is well illustrated by this photo.
Photo taken: June 22nd, 2012.

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City of Toronto

View looking southerly from from the Steeles Avenue overpass into the City of Toronto. Note the ramp that links Woodbine Avenue-South directly to Highway 404. The 404 is in effect a by-pass of Woodbine Avenue. When the current (commentary written in 2012) freeway extension opens to Ravenshoe Road, Highway 404 will tie back into Woodbine Avenue directly.
Photo taken: June 22nd, 2012.

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City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

This view looks northerly into York Region and the City of Markham from the Steeles Avenue overpass.

Photo taken: June 22nd, 2012.

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City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

City limits signage for the City of Toronto situated in advance of the Steeles Avenue overpass.

Photo taken: June 22nd, 2012.

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City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

HOV lane signage for the Highway 407 interchange along the Northbound 404.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

Advanced signage for the ramp to Highway 407 from Highway 404. The right-most northbound lane exits the 404 for Highway 407.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

View looking south from the John Street overpass in Markham. Note the ground mounted sign for Steeles Avenue -- very few ground mounted signs exist south of Highway 7 near Toronto.

Photo taken: May 24th, 2011.

City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

View looking northerly along Highway 404 towards the CN Railway overpass. This railway overhead was completed several years ahead of the rest of Highway 404, and as such has a much narrower span width than newer Highway 404 overpasses.
Photo taken: May 24th, 2011.

City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

View looking northerly from the CNR overpass towards the large Highway 407 interchange. Notice that the stripped buffer zone that delineates the HOV lane narrows to a single solid painted line as the highway passes under the rail overhead. Click here for this same view taken in July, 2007.
Photo taken: May 24th, 2011.

City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

Pull-through signage at the Highway 407 interchange. Note the lack of a control city along the 404 -- this is atypical. Generally outside of the city of Toronto all freeway pull-through signage includes both a cardinal direction and a control city.
Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

Advanced signage for the Highway 7 interchange. This signage was replaced early in 2015 with this signage, taken in March, 2015.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

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City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

View looking northerly at the exit to Highway 7 along Highway 404 north.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

View looking southerly through the Highway 407 interchange along Highway 404. The 404/407 interchange is a three level interchange with high-speed flyovers moving traffic from north to west and from south to east.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

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Highway 407 runs across the top of Toronto from Burlington to Pickering. Click here for Highway 407-West images and here for Highway 407-East images.

City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

An additional partial overhead sign was placed at the diverge of the off-ramp to Highway 7 from the northbound 404 during the Summer of 2011.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

Northerly view towards the braided ramps that separate the Highway 404 and Highway 7 ramps. Interchanges built as part of the construction of Highway 407 often feature braided ramps to separate closely spaced ramps. This is one of the most notable design improvements Highway 407 over older highways such as the 401.

Upper photo taken: July 8th, 2012.

Lower photo taken: July 23rd, 2007.

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City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

Southerly view as the ramps from Highway 7 join Highway 404 South. Almost as much traffic enters Highway 404 from Highway 7 as does from Highway 407.

Photo taken: July 23rd, 2007.

City of Markham

Regional Municipality of York

Signage at the southbound ramps to Highway 407 ETR. The Highway 404 pull through sign has yet to be updated despite the fact that the highway was first widened to 6-lanes back in 1998.

Photo taken: August 28th, 2011.

Highway 7 leads from Sarnia to Ottawa and through the Centre of York Region's Southern Cities. Click here for Highway 7 images.

Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Signage at the southbound off-ramp to Highway 7. Notice on the advanced signage for the 407 that the distance to the exit is shown rather than advanced arrows. In recent years, the MTO has avoided using curved advanced arrows on gantries also displaying 'pull-through' exit signage. This signage was replaced early in 2015 with this signage, taken in November, 2015
Photo taken: August 28th, 2011.

Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Overhead advanced sign for the Highway 7 interchange, and for the the start of the southbound HOV lane on Highway 404. Notice the signage indicating that Highway 407 is not accessible from the HOV lane.
Photo taken: August 28th, 2011.

Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Overhead guide signage 1km in advance of the 16th Avenue interchange. This sign would seem more fitting on a newer style partial gantry.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Northbound advanced signage for the Sixteen Avenue overpass. The right most lane of the freeway exits at the 16th Avenue interchange.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Exit signage at the 16th Avenue exit. Notice that no regional road numbers are indicated on this signage. 16th Avenue is York Regional Road 73, and Major Mackenzie Drive is York Regional Road 25.

Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Overhead interchange sequence signage southbound at the 16th Avenue interchange. This sign was erected in 2011 replacing an older ground mounted sign that was hidden behind the light standards that line the highway.
Photo taken: August 28th, 2011.

Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Two views looking southerly towards the 16th Avenue interchange with Highway 404 and Buttonville Airport. Buttonville is a small general aviation airport that is slated to close as soon as the end of 2013. Once closed it will be redeveloped as a mixed use high density site. Various improvements to both the local road network and Highway 404 are planned as part of this project. The city of Markham website has an interesting PowerPoint presentation detailing some of the proposed improvements that can be viewed here.

Photos taken: August 17th, 2012.

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Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

This view looks northerly overtop of the Rouge River bridge. Take notice just how narrow the highway is as it crosses overtop of the Rouge River bridge. The Rouge River bridge is a pile driven bridge, a design that is difficult to widen. Accordingly it was not widened when the 404 was widened to six lanes in 2001. This bridge is considered "throw-a-way" infrastructure, and new spans will be constructed prior to future highway widening.
Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Regional Road designations begin to make their appearance on overhead signage again at the Major Mackenzie Drive interchange. Notice how the next two interchanges are shown on the pull-through signage -- this is becoming more and more the standard practice in the suburban GTA -- traditionally, only the next exit was shown.
Photo taken: August 3rd, 2013.

Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

This view looks southerly along Highway 404 from the Major Mackenzie Drive overpass.

Photo taken: June 25th, 2012.

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Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Two northerly views along Highway 404 from the Major Mackenzie Drive overpass. Note the heavily congested southbound lanes of the freeway. Traffic routinely backs up along the southbound 404 during the morning rush hour. Click here for this same view taken in August, 2006 (note the absence of development surrounding the corridor).

Photos taken: June 25th, 2012.

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Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Southbound advanced signage for the exit to Major Mackenzie Drive in front of some of the more predominant buildings of the Toronto skyline.

Photo taken: June 25th, 2012.

Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

The southern side of the Elgin Mills Road overpass. In order to build the Elgin Mills Road interchange, the original two-lane 1970's era pre-stressed structure was replaced with this six lane concrete beam bridge.

Photo taken: June 26th, 2012.

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Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

View looking southerly from the Elgin Mills Road overpass. It is rather striking how much York Region has grown in the past 25 years. The lands surrounding the Elgin Mills Road interchange are almost exclusively developed now.

Photo taken: May 31st, 2012.

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Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Northerly view from Elgin Mills Road. The Elgin Mills Road intersection opened to traffic in 2005. The interchange was designed and constructed with financial contributions from the Region of York.

Photo taken: May 31st, 2012.

Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Southerly view from the Nineteenth Avenue overpass. Nineteenth Avenue is only the second major concession road north of the 401 to not have an interchange. Click here for this same view taken in October 2006.

Photo taken: October 6th, 2006.

Markham - Richmond Hill Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

View looking northerly from the Nineteenth Avenue overpass. Note the greenbelt signage in the right hand side of the photo. Perhaps surprisingly I am a big supporter of Ontario's greenbelt legislation -- while I certainly am in favour of continued economic and social growth within the GTA, continued urban sprawl cannot be allowed to envelop all of the prime farm land that surrounds the GTA. Click here for this same view taken in October 2006.
Photo taken: August 6th, 2012.

Richmond Hill - Whitchurch-Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Northbound advanced signage for the Stouffville Road interchange.

Photo taken: July 8th, 2012.

Richmond Hill - Whitchurch-Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Signage at the exit to Stouffville Road. This signage was replaced late in 2011 to what is pictured. Click here for an earlier incarnation of the signage taken in October of 2011.

Photo taken: July 8th, 2012.

Richmond Hill - Whitchurch-Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Southerly views along Highway 404 from the Stouffville Road overpass. Click here for this same view taken in October 2006.

Photo taken: August 6th, 2012.

Richmond Hill - Whitchurch-Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Two views taken from the Stouffville Road overpass looking north. Click here for this same view taken in October 2006.

Photo taken: August 6th, 2012.

Richmond Hill - Whitchurch-Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Southerly view approaching the Stouffville Road interchange.

Photo taken: May 31st, 2012.

Richmond Hill - Whitchurch-Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Southbound signage in advance of the Stouffville Road interchange. The use of the word "exit" is no longer used on signage in Ontario.

Photo taken: May 31st, 2012.

Richmond Hill - Whitchurch-Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Southerly view from the Bethesda Sideroad overpass. The Toronto skyline is pretty clearly visible in the distance from this vantage point some 40km away. Click here for this same view taken in May 2005.

Photo taken: June 25th, 2012.

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Richmond Hill - Whitchurch-Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

View looking northerly from the Bethesda Sideroad overpass. Note just how much earth was required to be moved to carve Highway 404 through the Oak Ridges Moraine. The Oak Ridges Moraine is a tall ridge that runs from the Niagara Escarpment to the Trent River outside of Trenton. Click here for this same view taken in May 2005.
Photo taken: June 25th, 2012.

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Richmond Hill - Whitchurch-Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Northbound advanced signage approaching the Bloomington Road interchange.

Photo taken: July 8th, 2012.

Richmond Hill - Whitchurch-Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Signage at the off-ramp to Bloomington Road. Click here for an older version of the Bloomington Road exit signage taken in April of 2006.

Photo taken: July 8th, 2012.

Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Two views looking northerly along Highway 404 at the Bloomington Road interchange. Bloomington Road passes underneath of Highway 404.

Photos taken: October 2nd, 2012.

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Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Southbound signage at the Bloomington Road off-ramp. This sign was erected late in 2011 replacing a much older sign that was likely original to the highway. Click here to see the sign that was replaced (taken June, 2011).

Photo taken: May 31st, 2012.

Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

The southbound advanced signage for the Bloomington Road interchange sits just after the CN Railway overhead.

Photo taken: May 31st, 2012.

Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

View looking southerly from the Vandorf Sideroad overpass.

Photo taken: June 26th, 2012.

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Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Looking north along Highway 404 from the Vandorf Sideroad overpass. Vandorf Sideroad is located roughly at kilometre marker 43.

Photo taken: June 26th, 2012.

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Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Advanced signage for the Aurora Road interchange.

Photo taken: August 21st, 2012.

Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

This newly erected advanced sign for the Aurora Road interchange was placed to draw attention to the fact that the right most freeway lane exits at Aurora Road.

Photo taken: August 21st, 2012.

Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Partial overhead sign for the Aurora Road off-ramp.

Photo taken: August 21st, 2012.

Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

These photos showcase Highway 404 looking south from the Aurora Road overpass. Notice that just south of the Aurora Road overpass, Highway 404 transitions from a six lane to a four lane freeway. Highway 404 is a 4-lane freeway north of Aurora Road to its northern terminus at Green Lane.

Photos taken: June 26th, 2012.

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Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

View looking northerly along Highway 404 from the Aurora Road overpass. Aurora Road is located roughly at kilometre marker 45.

Photo taken: June 26th, 2012.

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Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Blue signage welcoming traffic into Newmarket. Newmarket is the northbound control city for most of Highway 404's length.

Photo taken: July 8th, 2012.

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Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Highway 404 looking south from the St. John's Sideroad overpass near Aurora. St. John's Sideroad is located roughly at kilometre marker 47. In the upper (2005) photo, notice the large blue 'Oak Ridges Moraine' sign located to the right of the southbound lanes. This sign was replaced by a sign for Ontario's Greenbelt subsequent to the passing of the Greenbelt Act in 2005. This change is reflected in the 2012 photo.

Upper photo taken: June 20th, 2005.

Lower photo taken: June 26th, 2012.

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Aurora - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

View looking northerly along Highway 404 from the St. John's Sideroad overpass. York Region's Transportation Master Plan has identified a need for an interchange at St John's Sideroad and Highway 404 in the future; however no firm commitments or construction timelines have been established for this project. Notice the sign directing traffic to Highways 9 and 11 (featured again below) in the upper photo.

Upper photo taken: June 20th, 2005.

Lower photo taken: June 26th, 2012.

Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

White signage directing traffic to Highway's 9 and 11. This sign was removed several years ago.

Photo taken: September 9th, 2005.

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Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Northbound advanced signage for the Mulock Road interchange. This signage was replaced in 2014 with this signage, taken in September, 2014.

Photo taken: July 8th, 2012.

Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

View looking northerly approaching the Mulock Road interchange. This signage was replaced in 2014 with this signage, taken in September, 2014.

Photo taken: July 8th, 2012.

Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Highway 404 looking south from the Mulock Road overpass in southern Newmarket. Currently, the Mulock Road interchange is only a partial interchange serving traffic bound to and from Toronto. After Highway 404 is extended northerly, the MTO plans to construct additional ramps to at this interchange to service traffic coming to and from East Gwillimbury.
Photo taken: June 20th, 2005.

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Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

View looking northerly from the Mulock Road overpass. Mulock Road is located roughly at kilometre marker 49.

Photo taken: June 20th, 2005.

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Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

White guide signage directing traffic bound for Highway 48 to utilize Davis Drive. Green Lane is not an improved road east of Woodbine Avenue, while Davis Drive is in good condition all the way into Durham Region.

Photo taken: September 9th, 2005.

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Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Advanced signage for the ramp to Davis Drive. Davis Drive is Newmarket's main street. This signage was replaced in 2014 with this signage, taken in September, 2014.

Photo taken: July 8th, 2012.

Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Northbound view at the exit to Davis Drive. On close inspection of this photo, the remnants of the line striping that directed all northbound traffic off of Highway 404 at this exit is faintly visible. This signage was replaced in 2014 with this signage, taken in September, 2014.
Photo taken: July 8th, 2012.

Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

View looking southerly along Highway 404 from the Davis Drive overpass. Highway 404 ended at the Davis Drive interchange between 1989 and 2002. Davis Drive is located at kilometre marker 51. Click here for an earlier version of this photo, taken August, 2004.
Photo taken September 24th, 2014.

Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Two views looking northerly along Highway 404 from the Davis Drive interchange. The 404 was extended north of Davis Drive to Green Lane in 2002, and was subsequently extended northerly again to Woodbine Avenue in 2014.

Upper photo taken: August 1st, 2004.

Lower photo taken: September 24th, 2014.

Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Southbound signage at the off-ramp to Davis Drive.

Photo taken: September 24th, 2014.

Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Southbound advanced signage for the ramp to Davis Drive in Newmarket. The pictured construction signage refers to a project that had just about completed when this photo was taken to resurface the 404 between Aurora and Newmarket.

Photo taken: September 24th, 2014.

Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Northbound signage dating back to when the 404 terminated at the Green Lane interchange. As of September 17th, 2014, Highway 404 was extended an additional 12km north from Green Lane to Woodbine Avenue, just south of Ravenshoe Road.

Photos taken: September 9th, 2005.

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Newmarket - Whitchurch Stouffville Boundary

Regional Municipality of York

Northbound advanced signage for the ramp to Green Lane.

Photo taken September 18th, 2014.