Veterans Memorial Parkway

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Highway 100
Veterans Memorial Parkway
Length:	9.2 km (6 mi)
Existed:	1975 (opened in 1977) – 1994
Direction:	North/South
From:	Highway 401 in London, Ontario
Major junctions:	Highway 401 in London
To:	Huron Street / Robin's Hill Road

Veterans Memorial Parkway is a 9.2 km (5.7 mile) expressway located in London, Ontario. The highway was previously known as Highway 100 from 1977 until 1994. It was also known as Airport Road prior to September 2006. It is currently an at-grade, four-lane expressway.

[edit] History

In the late 1960s, the highway was conceived by the Ontario government as a freeway bypass that would run along the eastern and northern parts of London. The road would connect to Highway 401 in the south and join up with Highway 402 in the west. This plan, however, never came to fruition due to reluctance to fund an urban freeway.

Instead as a compromise, the City of London and the province decided that the proposed road would be constructed as a two-lane highway from Highway 401 north to Oxford Street. The design included a 250-metre (820 ft) wide right-of-way so additional lanes could be built in the future. As well, the road would be designated as Highway 100 and named Airport Road.

Construction began in early 1975, continuing until its official opening in 1977. Upon completion, the highway was controversial since it was not built as a proper freeway and had traffic lights instead of interchanges. Also, since it was constructed as a two-lane highway initially, there was growing frustration with the frequent traffic jams and the inability for vehicles to pass. The Hanlon Parkway or Highway 6 North in Guelph, which was built around the same time, had similar features and controversies as Airport Road. Both had the same overpass contractors for their trumpet interchanges with Highway 401, and both were not full freeways.

The Ministry of Transportation downloaded the highway to the city of London and the County of Middlesex in 1994, but has maintained the road as a connecting link.

In 1997, the road was extended further north from Oxford to Huron Street.

In 2004, the City of London began to widen Airport Road from Highway 401 north to Oxford Street. The project included widening the road to a 4-lane, divided highway with room for future interchanges and overpasses, similar to that of the Hanlon Parkway. The widening was completed in late 2005.

In September 2006, the road was renamed Veterans Memorial Parkway as a tribute to Canadian Veterans.

[edit] Future extensions, London Ring Road

London's original ring road was initially planned to be Highbury Avenue, also known as Highway 126, which was opened in 1965. Its exit with Highway 401 is the next one west of Veterans Memorial Parkway. Local opposition resulted in Highbury Avenue's truncation at Hamilton Road.

The City of London has short-term plans to extend Veterans Memorial Parkway to connect with Clarke Road near the Fanshawe Conservation Area. Also, extending Veterans Memorial Parkway south of Highway 401 to Highway 3 in St. Thomas remains a future possibility. This, however, will not likely happen until both funds and traffic warrant its construction.

In 2007, the City of London conducted an environmental assessment on potential interchange locations to be build along Veterans Memorial Parkway. These plans are within a 10-20 year time frame.

Long-term plans call for Veterans Memorial Parkway to be included as the eastern leg of a future London Ring Road. These proposals have been discussed since the 1960's and, until recently, have been revived. The eastern corridor for a ring road would use Veterans Memorial Parkway in the east, then continue north along Clarke Road. A western link would start at Highway 402 and head north between Westdel Bourne Road and Woodhull Road.

The northern corridor is a major stumbling block since the lands needed within the city limits have either been developed or will be soon. The only available route possible would be outside of the city in Middlesex Centre, where it has been rejected. Although talks continue between both municipalities, only the province can approve the plan.

Even if a route for the highway is selected soon, it would not likely be built for at least 20-30 years.

[edit] List of interchanges

Kilometre Post	Intersecting Roads	Notes
0	Highway 401 (trumpet interchange)
1	Bradley Avenue (at-grade intersection)	Parclo interchange proposed for construction by approximately 2010[1]
3	Hamilton Road (at-grade intersection)	Parclo interchange proposed for construction by approximately 2010
4	River Road (at-grade intersection)
5	Gore Road (at-grade intersection)
6	Tartan Drive (at-grade intersection)
6	Trafalgar Street (at-grade intersection)
7	Admiral Drive (at-grade intersection)
7	Dundas Street (at-grade intersection)
8	Page Street (at-grade intersection)
8	Oxford Street (at-grade intersection, narrows to two-lanes)
9	Huron Street (at-grade intersection, highway ends)