Don Valley Parkway
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The DVP was part of the grand project initiated by then Metro Chair FG Gardiner (for which the FG Gardiner Expressway is named). It was built where Woodbine Avenue existed between St. Clair Avenue and 401. Construction of the DVP was completed in 1966 and at a time when Toronto had a much smaller population. Today, the number of cars using the DVP greatly exceeds its capacity, leading to frequent traffic congestion. This has earned the DVP its other nickname, "the Don Valley Parking Lot." The most congested section is between Eglinton Avenue and 401. The 1960s designed interchange with 401 is a serious bottleneck, due to only 2 thru lanes passing though in each direction. The worse is southbound from the 401, which has 6 lanes of traffic converging into 3. It is unlikely that this will be fixed until the Eglinton-401 section will ever be widened.
The Don Valley Parkway is Toronto's busiest commuter route (along with the Gardiner Expressway), connecting the city to its northern and eastern suburbs via Highways 401 and 404.
There are interchanges located at York Mills Road, Lawrence Avenue, Wynford Drive (southbound only), Eglinton Avenue, Don Mills Road, Bayview Avenue/Bloor Street and Richmond Street.
The northern terminus of the Don Valley Parkway is at the Highway 401 interchange while its southern terminus is at the Gardiner Expressway. North of Highway 401, the Don Valley Parkway continues as Highway 404.
Traffic management on the DVP has improved with the installation of overhead display signs, similar to the Compass system on Highway 401, as well RESCU cameras along the route.
The speed limit on the Don Valley Parkway is 90 km/h (55 mph).
Construction Phases
- Bloor Street to Eglinton Avenue East 1961
- Eglinton Avenue East to Lawrence Avenue East 1963
- Bloor Street to Gardiner Expressway 1964
- Lawrence Avenue East to Sheppard Avenue East 1966
- Sheppard Avenue East to Steeles Avenue East 1977 - now part of Highway 404
See also
External links
- City of Toronto RESCU Traffic Cameras (http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/rescu/index.htm) (also includes traffic cameras for the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard)