Ontario Highway 402

King's Highway 402, commonly referred to as Highway 402 and historically as the Blue Water Bridge Approach, is a 400-series highway in the Canadian province of Ontario that connects the Blue Water Bridge international crossing near Sarnia to Highway 401 in London. It is one of two vital trade links between Ontario and the Midwestern United States. The freeway is four-laned and controlled access for nearly its entire length, except on the approach to the Blue Water Bridge, where it widens.

Although Highway 402 was one of the original 400-series highways created in 1952, it was not completed until 1982, when the final link between Highway 81 and Highway 2 opened to traffic. The freeway originally did not exit Sarnia, and merged into Highway 7 near the present Highway 40 interchange. In 1972, construction began to extend Highway 402 between Sarnia and London; this work was carried out over a decade. The removal of an intersection at Front Street in Sarnia made the entire route a controlled-access highway.

Motorists crossing into Michigan at the western end have direct access to Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis-St. Paul via I-94; motorists crossing onto the Canadian side from the east end of I-94 have access to Toronto via Highway 401, and on to Montreal via A-20 in Quebec. The only sizable community along Highway 402 between Sarnia and London is Strathroy.

Route description

The Blue Water Bridge crossing has 6 lanes of bridge traffic as well as non-stop freeway access,^[2] providing a quicker route over the busier Ambassador Bridge crossing in Windsor, which also suffers from 13 traffic lights leading to the bridge.^[3] Across the Blue Water Bridge, Highway 402 continues in Michigan as Interstates 69 and 94.^[2] With the exception of the Front Street interchange in Sarnia, the freeway features Parclos throughout its length.^[4] Although the freeway passes through Sarnia, it is not intended to operate as a commuter highway; the westbound lanes are signed as "Bridge to USA" instead of "Highway 402".^[5]

The freeway begins on the Canadian side of the Blue Water Bridge, descending over the village of Point Edward.^[6] After passing through a customs plaza, it enters Sarnia and travels parallel to and north of Exmouth Street through the city. Near the eastern limits, the freeway curves to the northeast to bypass its original alignment.^[4] It crosses the Howard Watson Nature Trail, a mixed-use recreational trail that was converted from a Canadian National Railway (CNR) line in 1988 as a result of the efforts of Lambton Wildlife Inc.^[7] The highway curves back to its east–west orientation as it interchanges with Highway 40.^[4] It exits the city as it passes south of Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport.^[8]

Now parallel and north of London Line, the former route of Highway 7 (the predecessor route between Sarnia and London),^[9] the freeway jogs north to travel along the back lot line of farmland fronting London Line and the concession road north of Highway 402.^[10] In this manner, the freeway did not divide any farms when it was constructed, instead running between them. It meets Lambton County Road 21 (Oil Heritage Road), the northern terminus of the Oil Heritage Route, north of the town of Wyoming. The county road is also a former southern extension of Highway 21, which itself begins 9.3 km (5.8 mi) to the east.^[4][9] Highway 21 is also known as the Bluewater Route, as most of its length is parallel to the shore of Lake Huron.^[11]

The freeway crosses London Line, momentarily diverging from its straight alignment south of Warwick. It continues 25 km (16 mi) east, then interchanges with Middlesex County Road 81 (Victoria Street) as it passes north of Strathroy.^[12] Shortly thereafter it curves to the southeast and zig-zags towards London, bisecting farms and dividing woodlands. The freeway passes to the west of the town of Delaware and curves east. It enters London and meets Highway 4 south of Lambeth, interchanges with Wonderland Road and merges into Highway 401. Access to westbound and from eastbound Highway 401 is provided by Highway 4.^[4]

History

Highway 402 is one of the original 400-series highways, having been numbered alongside Highway 400 and Highway 401 in 1952. The short 6.1 km (3.8 mi) dual highway was built as an approach to the Blue Water Bridge, which itself opened to traffic October 10, 1938.^[13] As such, the highway was appropriately named the Blue Water Bridge Approach. Construction began in late 1938. When it was opened at some point between 1946 and 1949, it featured at-grade crossings with Front Street, Indian Road and Modeland Road (the Highway 40 Sarnia bypass).^[14][15]

Ultimately, Highway 402 was designated with the intent of extending it to Highway 401. This was formally announced by the Department of Highways in late 1957.^[16] Construction on a new grade-separated intersection with Modeland Road began in 1963.^[17] Then, in February 1968, a 98 km (61 mi) extension towards London was officially announced.^[18] It was decided to construct the extension on a new alignment, as had been done with most freeways constructed after Highway 400. East of the Murphy Road overpass, Highway 402 was re-aligned to bypass the interchange with Highway 40 constructed in 1963; Exmouth Street was redirected to connect with Highway 7 (London Line) at that junction, and Quinn Street now follows the former alignment of the highway.^[19] For the new Highway 402, an overpass crossing was required with the then-CNR line (now the Howard Watson Nature Trail) as well as an interchange with the newly twinned Highway 40 just north of the 1963 interchange. Construction east of Highway 40 began in 1972.^[20]

The first construction began near Highway 7, under two contracts extending 23.2 km (14.4 mi) west of there.^[21] A third contract to bridge the gap between that construction and Sarnia was awarded in 1975.^[22] By 1978, Highway 402 was open to traffic as far east as Highway 21, and construction was underway on the section between there and Highway 81 near Strathroy, as well as on the section connecting Highway 2 with Highway 401.^[23] The section between Highway 21 and Highway 81 north of Strathroy was the next to be completed, and was opened to traffic by the end of 1979.^[24] On November 17, 1981, the section between London and Delaware was completed, including the interchange at Highway 401. It forced drivers off at Longwoods Road (Highway 2). Construction was already underway on the final section between Strathroy and Delaware at this point.^[25]

The opening of the section between Highways 2 and 81 completed Highway 402 from London to the Blue Water Bridge. In addition, the removal of the Front Street intersection in Sarnia made the entire route a controlled-access highway. Both were completed by the end of 1982. The route was officially opened on November 10, 1982 in Sarnia.^[26]

On Monday, December 13, 2010, a whiteout caused by lake-effect snow squalls left an 80 km (50 mi) stretch of Highway 402 closed for several days. Lambton County officials declared a state of emergency. Defence Minister Peter MacKay sent two Canadian Forces Griffon helicopters to Sarnia, as well as a C-130 Hercules to aid in the search-and-rescue efforts.^[27] The hospitality of locals in providing shelter for stranded motorists was the primary focus of local media coverage.^[28] The highway was reopened to traffic on the morning of December 16.^[29] A single death was reported; that of a man who succumbed to hypothermia on a nearby county road.^[30]

Future

Highway 402 is presently being widened in the Sarnia area from four to six lanes. Due to extensive truck backups from the bridge crossing towards the USA, the westbound lanes will be widened by two lanes; eastbound capacity will remain as it is. The new four lane roadway will be divided into specific lanes for cars, trucks (two lanes), and local traffic. Construction began August 4, 2009 between the Blue Water Bridge and Lambton County Road 26 (Mandaumin Road) and includes the reconstruction of several bridges. It is expected to be completed in August 2012.^[31]

Exit list

The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 402, as noted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.^[1]

References

External links

• Google Maps: Highway 402 route
• Highway 402 @ Asphaltplanet.ca
• Video of Highway 402 and Bluewater Bridge in Sarnia