Lakeshore Road
Encyclopedia
Lakeshore Road is an arterial road that follows the northern shoreline of Lake Ontario
between the cities of Toronto
and Hamilton
in the Canadian province of Ontario
. In 1917 it became the longest intercity stretch of concrete road in the world upon its completion, as well as the first concrete road in Ontario. The road formed a portion of the longer Highway 2
between 1925 and 1998 before municipal downloading stripped it of the King's Highway designation.
a cement road known as the Toronto–Hamilton Highway was proposed in January 1914.
The highway was designed to run along the lake shore, instead of Dundas Street
to the north, because the numerous hills encountered along Dundas would have increased costs without improving accessibility. Middle Road, a dirt lane named because of its position between the two, was not considered since Lake Shore and Dundas were both overcrowded and in need of serious repairs.
By November 1914, the proposal was approved,
and work began quickly to construct the road from Toronto to Hamilton known today as Lakeshore Road. It was formally opened on November 24, 1917, 18 feet (5.5 m) wide and nearly 40 mi (64.4 km) long. It was the first concrete road in Ontario, as well as one of the longest stretches of concrete road between two cities in the world.
In 1925, Lakeshore Road was incorporated as part of Highway 2 (which until then ran only east from Toronto).
It remained as such until January 1, 1998, when it was downloaded to the regions of Peel and Halton. It is now once again referred to as Lakeshore Road
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
between the cities of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
in the Canadian province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. In 1917 it became the longest intercity stretch of concrete road in the world upon its completion, as well as the first concrete road in Ontario. The road formed a portion of the longer Highway 2
Ontario Highway 2
King's Highway 2, usually referred to simply as Highway 2 is a provincially maintained highway in Ontario. Once the primary east–west route across the southern end of the province, Highway 2 became mostly redundant in the 1960s following the completion of Highway 401, which more or less...
between 1925 and 1998 before municipal downloading stripped it of the King's Highway designation.
History
As automobile use in southern Ontario grew in the early twentieth century, road design and construction advanced significantly. Following frequent erosion of the former macadamized Lake Shore Road,a cement road known as the Toronto–Hamilton Highway was proposed in January 1914.
The highway was designed to run along the lake shore, instead of Dundas Street
Dundas Street (Toronto)
Dundas Street, also known as Highway 5 west of Toronto, is a major arterial road connecting the centre of that city with its western suburbs and southwestern Ontario beyond...
to the north, because the numerous hills encountered along Dundas would have increased costs without improving accessibility. Middle Road, a dirt lane named because of its position between the two, was not considered since Lake Shore and Dundas were both overcrowded and in need of serious repairs.
By November 1914, the proposal was approved,
and work began quickly to construct the road from Toronto to Hamilton known today as Lakeshore Road. It was formally opened on November 24, 1917, 18 feet (5.5 m) wide and nearly 40 mi (64.4 km) long. It was the first concrete road in Ontario, as well as one of the longest stretches of concrete road between two cities in the world.
In 1925, Lakeshore Road was incorporated as part of Highway 2 (which until then ran only east from Toronto).
It remained as such until January 1, 1998, when it was downloaded to the regions of Peel and Halton. It is now once again referred to as Lakeshore Road
See also
- Gardiner ExpresswayGardiner ExpresswayThe Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, colloquially referred to as "the Gardiner", is a municipal expressway in the Canadian province of Ontario, connecting downtown Toronto with its western suburbs...
- Queen Elizabeth WayQueen Elizabeth WayThe Queen Elizabeth Way, commonly abbreviated as the QEW, is a 400-Series highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The freeway links Buffalo, New York and the Niagara Peninsula with Toronto. It begins at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie and travels around the western shore of Lake Ontario, ending...
- Lake Shore Boulevard
- Ontario Highway 2Ontario Highway 2King's Highway 2, usually referred to simply as Highway 2 is a provincially maintained highway in Ontario. Once the primary east–west route across the southern end of the province, Highway 2 became mostly redundant in the 1960s following the completion of Highway 401, which more or less...