During planning, the route was known as the West Durham Link. Its designation as Highway 412, the first new 400-series designation in several decades, was confirmed along with Highway 418 on February 6, 2015.[4]
Although initially planned to open in October 2015, the opening was delayed until June 20, 2016. Highway 412 opened alongside the extension of Highway 407 (Highway 407E) from Brock Road in Pickering to Harmony Road in Oshawa. The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) thus decided to compensate for delays by waiving all tolls until February 1, 2017.[3] On April 5, 2022, Highway 412 became toll-free.[5]
Route description
Highway 7 passing westerly beneath the still under construction Highway 412 overpass, in June 2015
Highway 412 is an 8.9-kilometre (5.5 mi) four-lane highway extending from Highway 401 to Highway 407E, just north of Highway 7. The entire length of the route lies between Lakeridge Road and Coronation Road, within Whitby. At the southern end, the route begins at a three-way interchange with Highway 401, from which it proceeds north. It crosses Dundas Street (former Highway 2), where a partial interchange provides access to the north and from the south.[2]
North of Dundas Street, the route swerves westward onto the alignment of Halls Road and crosses Rossland Road; a future interchange is planned at this location. It continues north to an interchange with Taunton Road before diverging east from the Halls Road alignment to travel parallel between it and Coronation Road. The route crosses Highway 7 (Winchester Road), where a partial interchange provides southbound access and a northbound exit; a commuter carpool parking lot lay on the northwest corner. Immediately north of Highway 7, the route ends at a three-level interchange with Highway 407E, which is a toll route; ETC cameras are present along the onramps.[2]
History
Highway 412 in Whitby, looking North, in September 2016.
The West Durham Link, as it was then known, was first presented to Whitby Council on February 10, 1992. It quickly drew the ire of local residents fearful of noise levels and the environmental effects on Lynde Creek.[6] However, the recession of the mid-1990s resulted in Highway 407 being truncated in Markham temporarily. Slightly revised plans for the links appeared on the June 2007 Technically Recommended Route Report for the extension of Highway 407 to Highway 35/115, which was submitted as part of the environmental assessment (EA) for the extension, but had been announced earlier that year on March 7 by the Government of Canada, as part of an investment in Greater Toronto Area infrastructure.[7]
The EA report was released on August 17, 2009, including detailed plans for the configuration of the interchanges along the new highway. The route would run parallel to and east of Lake Ridge Road, partially overlapping the current route of Halls Road and partially along a new alignment one lot to the east. Both Halls Road and Coronation Road will be re-aligned to accommodate the new highway. It would be six lanes throughout its length, with a concrete Ontario Tall Wall as a median.[2] Highway 412 will cut into Lynde Creek, a small waterway that flows out to Lake Ontario.
Construction on the new highway was underway by late 2013. As a prerequisite, the section of Highway 401 near the Lake Ridge Road overpass was shifted northward on a new alignment away from the parallel railway line to allow sufficient right-of-way for the interchange to the new highway.[8]
On February 6, 2015, it was announced by the MTO that the West Durham Link would be designated Highway 412.[4] Whitby Town Council had recommended to the province the route be named after Jim Flaherty.[9]
Although initially expected to be completed on December 18, 2015, delays resulted in the opening being postponed until June 2016. The highway was opened, alongside Highway 407E between Brock Road in Pickering and Harmony Road in Oshawa, on June 20, 2016.[10][3]
To compensate for opening delays, tolls were waived until the end of January 2017.[11]
On February 18, 2022, the Government of Ontario announced that Highway 412 would become toll-free from April 5, 2022, together with Ontario Highway 418.[5]
Former tolling
White-on-blue toll shield with toll tabBlack-on white Highway 412 shield which will replace the blue toll version
From June 1, 2019 to April 5, 2022, the following tolls applied for motorists utilizing Highway 412,[12] which were permanently removed to become free-of-charge on the latter date.[5]
Same toll rates of Highway 407E were applied here.
All end times displayed were rounded up to the nearest minute for simplicity purposes (i.e. 6am is actually 5:59:59am)
The toll rate that applied to a specific trip was determined by the time at which a vehicle enters the highway and the cumulative distance traveled on both Highways 412 and 407E.
Users of both 407 ETR and Highways 407E/412/418 only received one bill invoice, with trips on each highway specified.[13]
407 ETR Transponders were compatible with Highways 407E, 412, and later 418.[13]
Heavy goods vehicles and lorries were assessed a minimum toll regardless of the length of their trip.
Light vehicles without transponders were usually assessed an additional Video Toll.
Vehicles weighing over 5,000 kilograms were divided into two categories: Heavy Single Units and Heavy Multiple Units. Heavy Multiple Unit Vehicles were charged two or three time the passenger rate, depending on the size of the vehicle.[12]
All Heavy Unit vehicles were legally required to have transponders in order to use the highways; offenders were penalized under the Highway Traffic Act.
Exit list
The following are the exits listed in the 407 East Environmental Assessment Report. Lengths are approximated with Google Maps. The entire route lies within Whitby in the Regional Municipality of Durham.[1][2]
Highway 401 in Whitby
Regional Highway 2
Regional Road 4
Highway 7
Highway 407 in Whitby
