Veterans Memorial Parkway - History

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. The design included a 250-metre (820 ft) wide right-of-way so additional lanes could be built in the future. As well, the road would be designated as Highway 100 and named Airport Road.

Construction began in early 1975, with its official opening in 1977. Upon completion, the highway was controversial since it was not built as a proper freeway. The road featured traffic lights instead of interchanges at intersections.

Also, since it was constructed as a two-lane highway initially, there was growing frustration with poor traffic flow and the inability for vehicles to pass. The Hanlon Parkway or Highway 6 North in Guelph, which was built around the same time, had similar features and controversies as Airport Road. Both had the same overpass contractors for their trumpet interchanges with Highway 401, and both were not full freeways.

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. The project included widening the road to a 4-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). It is also sometimes referred to as Veterans by locals.

During 2010, the VMP 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.