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Autoroute 40, officially known as Autoroute Félix-Leclerc outside
1976 Summer Olympics official report.
Volume 2. pp. 156-8.
In 1997, the highway (apart from the portion served by the Metropolitan Autoroute) was renamed Autoroute Félix-Leclerc after the late Quebec artist and political activist Félix Leclerc.
Prior to 1997, Autoroute 40 east of Montreal had four different names, the first section was named ''Autoroute de la Rive-Nord'' (North Shore Autoroute) between Montréal and Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures (km 87 to 196, 209 to 296). A segment in 
Metropolitan Expressway (Autoroute Metropolitaine) at Steve Anderson's MontrealRoads.com
Transports Quebec Map
{{Streets in Montreal Venues of the 1976 Summer Olympics 40 Quebec 040 Transport in Repentigny, Quebec Roads in Montreal Streets in Quebec City Transport in Terrebonne, Quebec Transport in Dorval Transport in Pointe-Claire Transport in Trois-Rivières Former toll roads in Canada
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...
and Metropolitan Autoroute/Autoroute Métropolitaine within Montreal, is an Autoroute on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River
The St. Lawrence River (french: Fleuve Saint-Laurent, ) is a large river in the middle latitudes of North America. Its headwaters begin flowing from Lake Ontario in a (roughly) northeasterly direction, into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, connecting ...
in the Canadian province of Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
. It is one of the two major connections between Montreal and Quebec City
Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the metropolitan area had a population of 839,311. It is t ...
, the other being Autoroute 20 on the south shore of the St. Lawrence. Autoroute 40 is currently long. Between the Ontario–Quebec boundary and the interchange with Autoroute 25, the route is signed as part of the Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway (French: ; abbreviated as the TCH or T-Can) is a transcontinental federal–provincial highway system that travels through all ten provinces of Canada, from the Pacific Ocean on the west coast to the Atlantic Ocean on ...
.
Route description
The western terminus of Autoroute 40 is located at theOntario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
–Quebec border, where it continues as Highway 417 towards Ottawa; the eastern terminus is in Boischatel, where it transitions into Route 138 at the end of the freeway.
The portion of Autoroute 40 from the Ontario border to Autoroute 25 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway (French: ; abbreviated as the TCH or T-Can) is a transcontinental federal–provincial highway system that travels through all ten provinces of Canada, from the Pacific Ocean on the west coast to the Atlantic Ocean on ...
. The Metropolitan Autoroute portion in Montreal is the busiest highway in Quebec, the busiest section of the Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway (French: ; abbreviated as the TCH or T-Can) is a transcontinental federal–provincial highway system that travels through all ten provinces of Canada, from the Pacific Ocean on the west coast to the Atlantic Ocean on ...
, as well as the second busiest highway section overall in Canada after Highway 401 in Toronto.
History
Two sections of Autoroute 40 were not part of the original plans: The original intention was to bypassTrois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières (, – 'Three Rivers') is a city in the Mauricie administrative region of Quebec, Canada, at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence rivers, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of ...
to the north (the existing A-40 through downtown would have been Autoroute 755 and the concurrency with Autoroute 55 would have been simply A-55). In addition, a different route was originally planned around Quebec City
Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the metropolitan area had a population of 839,311. It is t ...
south of Jean Lesage International Airport (the existing segment of Autoroute 40 between Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures and Autoroute 73 would have been the western end of Autoroute 440, thus explaining the exit numbering starting at 12). While the right-of-ways of both bypasses still exist and may still be developed in the future as congestion increases, there are no immediate plans to renew construction.
A stretch of the highway in Pointe-Claire
Pointe-Claire (, ) is a Quebec local municipality within the Urban agglomeration of Montreal on the Island of Montreal in Canada. It is entirely developed, and land use includes residential, light manufacturing, and retail. As of the 2021 ce ...
, from roughly St. John's Boulevard, near Fairview Pointe-Claire Shopping Centre, to the turnaround loop, Senneville Road was used during the 1976 Summer Olympics
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 11 – The 1976 P ...
for the men's road team time trial cycling race.Volume 2. pp. 156-8.
In 1997, the highway (apart from the portion served by the Metropolitan Autoroute) was renamed Autoroute Félix-Leclerc after the late Quebec artist and political activist Félix Leclerc.
Prior to 1997, Autoroute 40 east of Montreal had four different names, the first section was named ''Autoroute de la Rive-Nord'' (North Shore Autoroute) between Montréal and Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures (km 87 to 196, 209 to 296). A segment in Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières (, – 'Three Rivers') is a city in the Mauricie administrative region of Quebec, Canada, at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence rivers, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of ...
east of Autoroute 55 that was named ''Autoroute de Francheville'' (Francheville Autoroute) (km 196 to 207). Between Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures and Autoroute 73 in Quebec City (km 296 to 307) it was called '' Autoroute Charest''. Finally, between the junction of Autoroute 73 and Autoroute 573 and its eastern end at Route 138 it was known as ''Autoroute de la Capitale'', a name that is still commonly used by Quebec City residents.
Exit list
See also
*List of crossings of the Ottawa River
This is a list of bridges, dams, and ferries on the Ottawa River, proceeding stream upwards from the Saint Lawrence River, with the year in which they were opened.
Crossings
Between the Saint Lawrence River and the Lake of Two Mountains
A ...
* List of bridges in Montreal
Like most major cities, Montreal needs easy highway access from its suburbs and surrounding areas. However, because Montreal was built on Island of Montreal, an island surrounded by three rivers, it can be entered by land only on a bridge or throu ...
References
External links
Metropolitan Expressway (Autoroute Metropolitaine) at Steve Anderson's MontrealRoads.com
{{Streets in Montreal Venues of the 1976 Summer Olympics 40 Quebec 040 Transport in Repentigny, Quebec Roads in Montreal Streets in Quebec City Transport in Terrebonne, Quebec Transport in Dorval Transport in Pointe-Claire Transport in Trois-Rivières Former toll roads in Canada