Toronto Freeways - Peterborough to Toronto - Hwy 115, 407, 404, Don Valley Parkway & Gardiner Expwy

[@GreatAussieDrives]

Another one of your videos that's going straight into my favourites playlist! 😊 Thanks for showcasing the drive into Downtown Toronto - I love how the roads in this video, despite all being expressways, each have their own distinct character. And the design quality of the 404 and 407 becomes even more apparent when you compare them to more "regular" expressways like the 115 or Don Valley Parkway.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Thank you. I agree, it is definitely evident that the 404 and 407 are more modern highways compared to some of the other roadways. Thanks for the comment.

[@SlowedByCinnamxn]

Again, Great Job on this Video. Ontario Really has a Lot of Well-Built Highways! Almost any Road you can Drive in this Province, it’s Looks beautifully Smooth, and it will he Worth it to Drive on

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

I've always enjoyed driving around Ontario. Thanks for the comment.

[@EdwardW98]

Great work on showing a comprehensive view of the drive into downtown Toronto. Really miss seeing that beautiful downtown view from the Gardiner Expressway. Seems like one day we'll see the dense urban skyscrapers constructed along the Gardiner Expressway all the way down to the Don Valley Parkway. Glad to see the Gardiner Expressway once again (and great touch showing underneath the structure as well)! This always reminds me of one of my favorite shows, Flashpoint, that would always have a transition scene showing the Toronto Skyline with the Gardiner Expressway in the background.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Thanks for the comment. I expect to see the condo towers line the expressway all the way to the DVP. I thought showing the underside was neat too. Lake Shore Blvd. is kind of a neat drive in of itself.

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

I love the way ON 115 is mostly a freeway between Peterborough and ON 401.

[@SwissRoadsPlaces]

Great road trip my friend. The explanations in the video are very interesting. 👍💛👍

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Thank you.

[@MrSniperFromMars]

The 407 needs to be the next place the new 110 km/h speed limits are implemented (110 isn't enough, in my opinion). It's crazy how quiet that road is compared to the 401, especially the eastern sections. Very nice work on the video, I miss Toronto and hope I can make it up there soon!

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Thanks for the comment. I agree -- I'd love to see higher speed limits on more freeways in Ontario, and I think that the 407 would be a great candidate for an increased limit.

[@art.demirjian9721]

thanks for the wonderful tour for helping me to see my favorite places. believe me much better than driving myself and avoiding all that hustle and bustle of the traffic congestions on highways...! Cheers!

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@SlowedByCinnamxn]

I Liked the Expressway/Freeway at the Start. And wow! This is such a Long Video and it Drive! Great Job

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Thank you.

[@thewheatgreatness]

The 427 extension in Vaughan is set to open this Saturday (September 18 2021). 2:43 That looks like a rare sign to me. 21:36 The Gardiner ramps to/from the Lakeshore near the DVP ramp is now closed and it's being demolished.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

The sign at 2:43 is fairly rare, but they used to be more common. Thanks for the comment.

[@csscott9803]

Just love the Toronto skyline

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Me too. Thanks for teh comment.

[@thevultrantransituniverse1487]

Very well done!

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Thank you.

[@geoffreylee5199]

The 35/115 split was where the 407 was to meet, with the bit from the spilt to Big Peet as the 407. South of the split it is posted as 90 kph, north as 100 kph, both of which are ignored with the OPP catching speeders all the time.

[@stevengaming3689]

When are you going to film the 427 Extension? Btw it's opening tomorrow.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

I'm either going to film it on Saturday or Sunday this weekend.

[@csscott9803]

Love the CN Tower

[@liandlee222]

Thanks for the great video, as always! Great to see Peterborough, and the 115 being featured at the start of the video - this is my neck of the woods. I used to do the drive from Peterborough to Toronto on a regular, biweekly basis prior to COVID19, albeit, not on the 407. Looks like this was filmed over the past week or so, yeah? Bridge Rehabilitation is still ongoing as of Wednesday. Also, nice to see the drive both on the Gardiner, as well underneath, on Lakeshore Blvd - I agree, the drive is quite interesting both ways! Demolition on the eastern end of the Gardiner appears to have started already to start making way for the new route of the Gardiner-DVP connection. Would be interesting to see what the drive would be like once that finishes up, especially with that bend where it's supposedly going to require a speed reduction to 60km/h.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Thanks for the comment. This video was filmed on the August long weekend. So recently, but not just this past week. I filmed a Gardiner Specific video on the day before the ramps closed permanently. I knew the eastern ramps to Lake Shore were set to be demolished, but I didn't realize it was so soon when I filmed this. So I am definitely glad that I filmed it.

[@thevultrantransituniverse1487]

Have you seen the Pixar trailer Turning Red? That film is set in Toronto!

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

I had not seen that trailer. It's certainly neat to see an animated show set in Toronto.

[@pokedude104]

There's no reason most of the 407 couldn't be 120km/h with how gentle it curves and how empty the eastern end typically is.

[@EpicThe112]

For ETR 407 the highway definitely suits 110 kmh 70 mph speed limit across Lake Erie you're going to find this on Pennsylvania Turnpike except for the tunnels and toll barriers 90 km/h 55 mph speed limit. Furthermore 407 ETR uses entry and exit gantry that's what Pennsylvania Turnpike Should copy unlike I-90 Boston to Pennsylvania border via Albany Syracuse New York State is the use of main line electronic toll gantry breakdown a ticket zone. 407 ETR needs to accept E-Z Pass Northeastern United States and Great Lakes because if you have US E-Z Pass you're forced to pay a video toll in return is 407 ETR Transponder on E-Z Pass toll roads in the Northeast and Great lakes part of the United States

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Thanks for the comment. I suspect additional 400-series highways will have the speed limit increased in the future.

[@alexishoude4449]

Trivia: this video was reccorded on Asphalt Planet's 10th anniversary on youtube Asphalt, if you're reading this, I wish you an happy late 10th anniversary & continue your great work.

[@kevinblack16]

Keep it up AP, really appreciate these videos. One question for you. Do you know why there are grooved lanes on the 35/115? Is it for preventing ice build up or something? I feel like those only appeared over the last few years.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

The 115 was originally constructed with transverse tining (as most highways were in Ontario). The perpendicular grooves provide for good skid resistance, but are pretty noisy to drive on. The texture of the concrete has a tendency to wear down over time. In recent years longitudinal tining (also called whisper grooving) has become common, as they concrete that has been diamond ground in that fashion is often smoother, still has good skid resistance, and is much quieter than the former way of grooving concrete. The concrete pavement on the 115 was just old enough that it was due to be retextured or paved over to increase skid resistance, so instead of paving it, they retextured it as you have observed. www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/concrete/trailer/resources/hif18038.pdf

[@kevinblack16]

@@AsphaltPlanet1 Forgot to say - thanks for writing this. Been a good tidbit with family on the way up to Peterborough ;)

[@RoadsOfAsiaBen]

Great drive! Why does the the sign say Toronto at 5:46 for destination on Highway 407 when it is actually not heading there directly? Highway 407 bypass it north of Toronto. Kindla like how Interstate 15 southbound from Las Vegas, Nevada and Interstate 40 westbound from Flagstaff, Arizona has a destination city listed for Los Angeles but doesn't go there directly.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

The 407 uses Toronto as a westbound control city as that was the best choice for a control despite not actually entering the city limits of the city.

[@geoffreylee5199]

The 407 has the highest tolls on the planet, the guys raise the tolls to increase their profit on an annual basis. The leasers wrote the 99 year lease in the 1990s, so many drivers have their fees paid under the table through their employers. Usual activity of a Conservative government … their original ads talked about the road being empty, in many cases this is true.

[@compdude100]

Wow the concrete supports under the Gardiner Expressway seem to be in terrible shape! Lots of exposed rebar.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Nice work on the video. Thank you.

[@alfred5674]

Good video. I'm sorry you had to go through that part of the 404.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Lol, it wasn't that bad. I was on the northbound lanes the other night, and saw they had started surfacing the southbound lanes.

[@alfred5674]

@@AsphaltPlanet1 nice nice you should do the 400 again they are finished with the southbound hov lanes I think they are gonna finish up the northbound sides next week give or take

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

@@alfred5674 I've driven the southbound 400 but I haven't filmed it yet. I'll probably film the northbound side once it's done just to mix things up.

[@alfred5674]

@@AsphaltPlanet1 yeah and will you use the 407 or the 401 cause it would be cool too see that too and you should use when doves cry in one of the songs that you like to put in

[@seanrodgers1839]

The 407 should extend to Ottawa, with a bypass to the 417 east end. This would give an alternate when the 401 gets blocked. I've been stuck of the 401 a few times, once when a huge pileup occurred right in front of me. Was stuck for 6 hours, until the police let everyone drive the wrong way to an exit.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

It would certainly be nice if there was an alternative to the 401

[@otanakugaming3357]

That’s the Highway I always use

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Thanks for the comment.

[@EC4U2C_Studioz]

Almost empty highway 407 and it should be given the same speed limit as the 417 and 402. Not all sections of the 407 should increase, just the least busy rural sections should get the higher limit.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

The 407 certainly would be a great candidate for an increased speed limit. Thanks for the comment.

[@leadnsteel1428]

They call the don valley parkway the don valley park lot lol

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

The most certainly do

[@christmashunter4573]

how much did the 407 cost?

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Too much.

[@brainwells6634]

Lakeshore Drive in Chicago is nicer than Lakeshore Blvd in Toronto

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Thanks for the comment.

[@mattschehr163]

Durham County needs to be 1.5 million too much farmland along the 407

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

You published this video almost Friday midnight (EST/GMT -5) and you usually publish road tripping videos weekly every Friday morning (EST/GMT -5). I don't know why you published this at midnight.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

I upload videos ahead of time and schedule their release. I must've just forgot to change the time until noon when I uploaded this video.

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

Did you hear the news about the 427 extension? It's finally complete. Have you driven there for the 1st time?

[@TheAbderaman]

canada looks like an outer extension of the US same highways same trains same architecture

[@justincarter3033]

I think that they should toll the 404, Don Valley Pkwy and Gardiner Expressway