| Ontario Provincial Highway 406 |
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Information AboutOntario Provincial Highway 406 |
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. Image Courtesy: Doug Kerr]] Highway 406 is a 400-Series Highway in Ontario , Canada . It serves as the primary north-south route though the central portion of the Niagara Peninsula , connecting Welland , Thorold and Downtown St. Catharines to the Queen Elizabeth Way . The section through Downtown St. Catharines wraps through the Twelve Mile Creek valley in a very winding and twisted route, and is therefore only posted at 80 km/h (50 mph) rather than the usual 100 km/h (60 mph). The northbound transition to this lower speed limit has been the scene of many serious accidents, as motorists are unable to judge the sharp turn that occurs just after the reduction in speed limit. Highway 406 is one of only two 400-series highways with non-freeway sections, the other being Highway 400 , which is scheduled to be upgraded by 2007 . South of Beaverdams Road, Highway 406 is a conventional two-lane highway with at-grade intersections. Widening and conversion to a full freeway to Port Robinson Road has recently began, with the conversion southwards towards Welland expected to commence in the summer of 2007 . Construction began in 1963 , with the first section open in 1965 . Extensions were opened in 1970 , 1971 , 1984 , 1991 and 1994 . The highway is currently 25 Km (16 Mile s) long. INTERCHANGES FROM SOUTH TO NORTH † Exits are not currently numbered on Highway 406. RAILWAY CROSSINGS Highway 406 is unique, having the only At-grade Railway Crossing of any 400 series highway. The Trillium Railway spur is just south of the Woodlawn Road intersection. This section of Highway 406, however, is not a freeway, but rather a two-lane conventional highway. It will be removed when the freeway is extended southward. FUTURE PLANS An extension south of East Main Street to reach the proposed Mid-Peninsula Highway is currently under review. This section will initially be built as a Two-lane Freeway , and later upgraded to a full divided freeway as traffic counts warrant. When the extension southward is finalized, kilometer posts will be updated to reflect the eventual length of the highway. REFERENCES |
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