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Please note that in 1952, most of Hwy 2A from West Hill to Newcastle was renumbered as
Hwy 401. Please check the Hwy 401 Photos Index
for more images of this highway from West Hill to Newcastle.
All photographs displayed on this page were taken by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, unless specifically noted otherwise. Historical photographs are arranged in approximate chronological order, while present day photographs (Year 2000 to date) are arranged by location from west to east. Click on any thumbnail to see a larger image! Please note that all photographs displayed on this
website are protected by copyright. These photographs must not be reproduced, published,
electronically stored or copied, distributed, or posted onto other websites without
my written permission. If you want to use photos from this website, please
email me first for permission. Thank-you!
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Historical Highway 2A (Toronto) Photographs
 Above - Original 1930s plan for the new dual highway through Oshawa. This road was initially known as Hwy 2A, but later became a portion of Hwy 401. This sketch was prepared by the Department of Highways in February 1939 and the plan was approved by Oshawa City Council later that same month. Construction began on the new dual highway between Toronto and Oshawa before World War II, but shortages of construction materials delayed the completion of many of the grade separations and interchanges. The partially-completed freeway was unofficially opened to traffic in 1942, despite the fact that many sections were still under construction. The freeway was formally opened to traffic on December 3, 1947. Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation 
 Left - Grading for the new Hwy 2A (Hwy 401) west of Whitby, looking east (1938) Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Centre - New earth cut and grading underway on Hwy 2A (Hwy 401) approaching the Rouge River (1938) Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Right - Completed Hwy 2A (Hwy 401) grading approaching the Rouge River, looking east (1938) Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation 
 Left - Graders at work on Hwy 2A (Hwy 401) east of Pickering Village (1938) Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Right - Facing west along Hwy 2A (Hwy 401) from the Simcoe Street Interchange in Oshawa (1946) Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation 
 Left - New Hwy 2A (Hwy 401) at West Hill. South side of dual highway facing east (April 3, 1946) Photo Courtesy of Archives of Ontario (Series RG-14-162-2-27, Photo #G62) Right - CN Subway and Albert & Simcoe Street Overpasses at Hwy 2A in Oshawa (August 27, 1946) Photo Courtesy of Archives of Ontario (Series RG-14-162-3, Photo #G308) 
 Left - Construction of steel frame for the new Thickson Road Overpass on Hwy 2A (Hwy 401) between Whitby and Oshawa (1946) Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Right - Concrete paving machines in operation on Hwy 2A (Hwy 401) near Whitby (1946) Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation 
 Left - Facing east along Hwy 2A (Hwy 401) from the Simcoe Street Overpass in Oshawa, showing 3 of 4 lanes paved (1946) Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Right - Looking east along Hwy 2A (Hwy 401) near the Thickson Road Interchange near Whitby (October 8, 1946) Photo Courtesy of Archives of Ontario (Series RG-14-162-3, Box A1367, Photo #6496) |
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Present Day Highway 2A (Toronto) Photographs
 Left - Aerial view of Hwy 401 & Port Union Road Interchange in Toronto, facing west. Note the exit to Hwy 2A in the background, and Kingston Road (Hwy 2) which parallels Hwy 401 & 2A. (Photograph taken on May 30, 2004 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Aerial view of Hwy 2A facing east from Highland Creek towards Hwy 401 and Port Union Road. Note the narrow width of this early divided highway compared to the current Hwy 401. Until the 1970s, Hwy 401 was of a similar design all the way out to Oshawa. Kingston Road (Hwy 2) can be seen paralleling Hwy 2A in this photo. (Photograph taken on May 30, 2004 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Looking east towards Oshawa along Hwy 2A from Highland Creek (Lawson Road) Overpass. This short but interesting section of highway has changed very little since it officially opened in 1947. This unspoiled divided highway provides a rare view of what a 1940s Ontario freeway looked like. (Photograph taken on June 15, 2003 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Looking west along Hwy 2 & Hwy 2A from Highland Creek (Lawson Road) Overpass (Photograph taken on June 15, 2003 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Old Highland Creek Overpass on Hwy 2A. This original structure was completed in 1947. (Photograph taken in 2000 - © David Macklin) Right - New Highland Creek Overpass on Hwy 2A. The original 1947 structure was replaced in 2000. (Photograph taken on June 15, 2003 - © Cameron Bevers) |
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