Existed: 1962 – present Length 12.5 km Province Québec | Constructed 1962 | |
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West end: A-40 & A-73 in Quebec City (Sainte-Foy) | ||
Autoroute 440 (or A-440) is a superhighway located in Quebec City. It includes two separate segments, respectively named Autoroute Charest and Autoroute Dufferin-Montmorency. Originally meant to be connected and form a single continuous highway via a tunnel under the city centre (unused ramps were torn down at the western terminus of the Dufferin-Montmorency section in the late 2000s), these plans were shelved years ago and are not expected to be revived.
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Map of Autoroute 440, Ville de Qu%C3%A9bec, QC, Canada
The designation of Autoroute Charest is likely derived from Boulevard Charest, which is the street continuation east of this segment of A-440.
Route description
The Autoroute Charest segment is 4.5 km (2.8 mi) long. It begins at the junction of A-73 and A-40 and ends at Saint-Sacrement Avenue. Originally built as a two-lane freeway in 1962, it was twinned in 1967.
The roadway continues as Boulevard Charest into downtown Quebec, where A-440 traffic is directed along Rue Monseigneur-Gauvreau to reach the Autoroute Dufferin-Montmorency at its westernmost interchange (exit 21).
The Autoroute Dufferin-Montmorency is 8 km (5.0 mi) long. It begins at Route 175 (Corner of Avenue Dufferin and Côte d'Abraham) and ends at the junction with A-40 in Beauport. The portion from Route 175 to Boulevard Henri-Bourassa. (Exit 23) was built in 1976 and the rest of the segment (Exits 23 to 29) was built in 1982.
The autoroute was designated Dufferin-Montmorency because it extends former Avenue Dufferin (now Avenue Honoré-Mercier) in Quebec City and ends near the Montmorency Falls in Beauport. Lord Dufferin was a Governor General of Canada and had significant ties to Quebec City.