Highway 402: 102 Kilometres of History by Crystal Loyst It may not be Route 66 or the Trans-Canada Highway, but the history of Kings Highway 402 is an extensive one, although it has only been an active highway since 1982. At its creation, Highway 402 meant something different to everyone – from ru - ral families and construction workers to politicians and activists. After the completion of the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia in 1938 a six-kilometre highway named the Blue Water Bridge Approach was constructed leading up to the bridge. However, with the onset of World War II construction stopped. Between 1950 and 1974, ‘the Golden Age of Roads’, highway travel throughout Canada increased dramatically, and in 1953 the Blue Water Bridge Approach became the 402, a “400 series” designation, indicating that it would be a four-lane highway. And in 1957 it was announced that the 402 would be extended from Sarnia to Highway 401 in the London area. Finding the most cost-efficient and appropriate route for the highway was extremely important and took years to finalize. Land had to be expropriated and purchased to allow construc - tion to go ahead. From Sarnia to Strathroy-Caradoc the 402 followed a straight route, in most cases going between farms rather than cutting through them. Once the highway reached Strathroy-Caradoc it took a turn to the southeast until meeting the 401. This was partly due to the angle of Strathroy-Cara - doc’s original survey and the existence of environmentally sensitive areas. The route would close a number of conces - sion roads, cutting neighbours off from each other, affecting people on Walkers, Century and Falconbridge Drives. Over ten different routes for the 402 from Strathroy to the 401 were proposed: there was opposition to each of them. 1973 was a pivotal year for public demonstrations and concerns over the location of the highway in the Strathroy-Caradoc area. Residents were most concerned about preserving farm - land and community identity. The ratepayers in Campbellvale, just east of Mount Brydges, objected to the 402-corridor plan that would cut through their community. Government officials conceded that it “might” be possible to retain Campbellvale through careful engineering. In the end, the chosen 402 route went just to the east. “Citizens for Reconsideration of the Freeway Route/402 By - pass” was organized by concerned citizens. One of the lead - ers was Bill Siegel, a Western University Professor living in Caradoc. In January 1974, Bill and the group went to Queen's Park. They pointed out to officials that agricultural productivity would be damaged, handing out fruits and vegetables to make their point and suggesting other options, including widening existing roads and improving the rail system. But it was too
late. By 1974 the shovels were ready to go in the ground, and the group gave up its battle against the highway. The highway was completed in sections. As with many con - struction jobs, there were potential hazards. On July 9, 1981, a worker was hit and killed by an earth mover just east of Highway 81 while directing traffic and counting loads of dirt. Mike Rose lived on the 9th Concession in Caradoc and had a wife and two children; he was only 39 years old. November 1982 saw the last section of the 402 completed, with a ribbon-cutting under the overpass on Centre Road (interchange 65). Despite the difficulties along the way the opening brought an enhanced transportation network and in - creased opportunities for economic development to commu - nities along the route and has been a boon to the Strathroy area ever since. Photo courtesy of Museum Strathroy-Caradoc; Strathroy Age Dis- patch negative collection Save our Community and other signs mirrored the feelings of nearly a hundred South Caradoc Township residents who turned out for a rally at the Mount Brydges Community Centre on Wednesday evening, June 20. The residents were protesting the fact the new 402 study corridor runs through their area. The last of a series of 402 information meetings was in progress in the hall when the residents arrived. Age Dispatch, June 28, 1973
Page 14 Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc May 2025
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