|
The Veterans Memorial Parkway (VMP, known as the "Veterans" by locals) is a expressway located in London, Ontario. The expressway was previously known as King's Highway 100 from 1977 until 1994 and as Airport Road from 1977 to September 2006. It is currently an at-grade, four-lane expressway. Long term plans / proposals for the route include north and south extensions of the road and grade separated interchanges along its entire length, converting it to a freeway. ==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 city council's 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. Designed as a super two, the design included a right-of-way so that an additional carriageway could be built in the future. As well, the road would be designated as Highway 100 and named Airport Road. The road featured traffic lights at intersections, with available land to built interchanges if warranted. The Hanlon Parkway (also known as Highway 6 North) in Guelph was built around the same time and had similar features as Airport Road, including the same overpass contractors for their trumpet interchanges with Highway 401, and at-grade intersections, although the Hanlon was opened as a four-lane divided road. Construction on Airport Road began in early 1975, with its official opening in 1977.〔 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, using the right-of-way to construction another carriageway separated by a grass median. The completion of the project resulted in a four-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 (from World War I, World War II and the Korean War). During 2010, the Parkway underwent a beautification project. This included a large gateway monument which was installed on the northbound lanes near the Highway 401 interchange, greeting motorists entering the expressway, planting trees along the entire length of the expressway, and raising flagpoles in tribute to Canadian veterans. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Veterans Memorial Parkway」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|