Ontario Highway 8 facts for kids

Ontario Highway 8 is a major road in Ontario, Canada. It runs from west to east across the province. This highway is about 138.5 kilometers (or 86.1 miles) long.

It begins in a town called Goderich. Here, it connects with Highway 21. Highway 8 also shares parts of its route with Highway 7. They travel together through cities like Stratford, Kitchener, and Waterloo. The highway finishes its journey near Hamilton, where it joins Highway 5.

What is Highway 8?

Highway 8 is a "provincial" highway. This means it is managed by the government of Ontario. It helps people travel across the province. The highway connects many towns and cities. It is an important route for both cars and trucks.

Where Does Highway 8 Go?

Highway 8 starts in Goderich, a town on Lake Huron. From there, it heads east. It passes through many different areas. You will see farmlands, small towns, and busy cities.

One interesting part is when Highway 8 "shares" a road with Highway 7. This is called a concurrency. It means two highways use the same stretch of road for a while. This happens between Stratford, Kitchener, and Waterloo.

The highway ends near Hamilton. This city is close to Lake Ontario. Here, Highway 8 connects with Highway 5. This allows travelers to continue their journey in different directions.

A Look Back in Time

Highway 8 has a long history. Parts of it were once old roads. For example, the "Queenston Road" was an important route around 1918. Another old path was the "Huron Road" in 1858. These roads were much different back then. They were often dirt paths with tree stumps.

Early Road Improvements

In the early 1900s, these old roads started to get better. They were paved and improved. For instance, the section of Highway 8 between Sebringville and Stratford was paved by 1922. This made travel much easier and faster. By 1921, parts of the highway south of Cambridge (which was then called Galt) were also improved.

Modern Highway Changes

Over the years, Highway 8 has continued to change. As more people use the roads, highways need to be wider and safer.

Widening and Interchanges

In 2011, parts of Highway 8 were widened. Some sections became eight lanes wide. This helps handle more traffic. You can see this near the King Street East interchange.

There have also been big changes to how highways connect. These connections are called "interchanges." For example, the interchange between the Conestoga Parkway and the Freeport Diversion was rebuilt in 2004. This made it easier for drivers to switch between different roads.

Connecting to Other Highways

Highway 8 also connects to Highway 401. Highway 401 is one of the busiest highways in Canada. There are two interchanges where Highway 8 meets Highway 401. One helps traffic going west on Highway 401. The other helps traffic going east. These connections are very important for travel across Ontario.

Images for kids

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  Highways 7 and 8 travel concurrently through downtown Stratford

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  The Freeport Diversion segment of Highway 8 crossing the Grand River.

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  Highway 8 passes farmland near Rockton

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  The Queenston Road, circa 1918, before being improved as a provincial highway

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  The Huron Road in 1858; note the stumps in the recently cleared farm field

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  Recently-paved Highway 8 between Sebringville and Stratford in 1922

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  Highway 8 south of Cambridge in 1921

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  Construction in 2011 to widen the Highway 8 expressway to eight lanes, shown at the King Street East partial interchange, with the Grand River crossing in the background

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  Interchange between Conestoga Parkway and Freeport Diversion after its 2004 reconstruction, facing south and showing both legs of Highway 8

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  Interchange between Conestoga Parkway and Freeport Diversion in 1970, shortly after opening

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  Interchange between Highway 8 (Freeport Diversion) and King Street East facing southeast towards Highway 401 in the distance

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  Facing east overlooking the two interchanges between Highway 8 and Highway 401. The nearer King Street interchange serves traffic to and from the west on Highway 401, while the farther Freeport Diversion interchange serves traffic to and from the east exclusively.