Ontario Highway 416 History - The King's Highways of Ontario

This relatively new freeway connects Ottawa to Highway 401 near Prescott. The highway was essentially completed in two phases. The north section, from Century Road northerly to Highway 417, was constructed on an entirely new alignment. Work began on this section in the early 1990s. The highway was fully opened to Highway 417 in 1997. This new alignment allowed traffic to bypass the most congested section of former Highway 16 leading through Ottawa. The second phase involved twinning the existing lanes of Highway 16 from Century Road southerly to a point just north of Highway 401. Twinning was completed in 1999, but the existing lanes were then closed for reconstruction in 2000. All work on Highway 416 was completed in late 2000. A new flyover was constructed to carry Ottawa-bound traffic from Eastbound Highway 401 onto the new Highway 416. Traffic on Westbound Highway 401 cannot access Highway 416 directly. Motorists wishing to use Highway 416 must exit Highway 401 at Highway 16 North to access the ramp to Highway 416. In 1999, the entire length of Highway 416 from Prescott to Ottawa was designated as the Veterans Memorial Highway.

The entire highway from Prescott to Ottawa is four lanes, with two lanes provided for each direction of travel. There are no Service Centres located along Highway 416, and services are not available at many interchanges. The posted speed limit on Highway 416 is 100 km/h (60 mph). Exits along Highway 416 are numbered based on their distance from Highway 401 at Prescott. Approximate distances along the highway can therefore be calculated by subtracting one exit number from another. For example, the distance from Highway 43 (Exit #34) to Highway 417 (Exit #75) is 41 km (75 - 34 = 41). Please visit the Highway 416 Mileage Chart page for a list of interchange numbers along Highway 416.