New Highway 404 Crossing Opens Friday, Linking Richmond Hill and Markham

The new four-lane connection between Orlando Avenue and Markland Street adds another east-west route across Highway 404, along with sidewalks and multi-use paths for people walking and cycling.

By Staff Writer

The new Highway 404 road crossing between Richmond Hill and Markham is scheduled to open to the public on Friday, September 4.

The four-lane road connects Orlando Avenue in Richmond Hill with Markland Street in Markham, creating another east-west connection across Highway 404 between 16th Avenue and Major Mackenzie Drive.

York Region, Richmond Hill and Markham marked the completion of the project at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 2. Construction began in 2023 and was completed this summer.

The approximately $110-million project was jointly funded by the City of Markham, the City of Richmond Hill and York Region.

In addition to four traffic lanes, the project includes sidewalks and multi-use pathways for walking, cycling and other forms of active transportation. The project also includes bridges over Highway 404 and the Rouge River, landscaping, stormwater improvements and extensive tree and shrub planting.

The crossing is intended to give drivers another option for east-west travel and potentially relieve pressure on nearby roads.

It is important to note that the crossing is not a new Highway 404 interchange. Vehicles can cross over the highway, but there are no ramps connecting the new road directly to Highway 404.

For Richmond Hill residents, the project also creates something significant beyond additional driving capacity: a new direct route for people walking and cycling across both Highway 404 and the Rouge River.

From a Strong Towns perspective, that connection may ultimately be one of the most valuable parts of the project. Highway 404 has long acted as a major physical barrier between Richmond Hill and Markham. The sidewalks and multi-use paths provide a rare new east-west link for people travelling without a car.

Whether the additional road capacity produces lasting congestion relief is another question. New road capacity can change travel patterns and attract additional traffic over time, so the real measure of the project’s success will come after residents have had time to use the new connection and travel patterns begin to settle.

The crossing officially opens to traffic Friday, September 4.