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Buy Lower/Sell Higher www.MoreForMyHouse.com How to get around a Hwy 400 closure  Bill Rinehart, Realtor®/Salesperson HomeLife/Kempenfelt-Kelly Realty Ltd, Brokerage  Local 705.436.5111 Toll-Free 1.877.436.5111

The routes your GPS navigator won't tell you about:

Going South Going North

You're not alone. Those other drivers who aggravate you on the way to work in the morning also live in Barrie (or even farther north) for the same reason you do; it's less expensive and a better place to raise kids. Cut them some slack! Put away your gun...you don't live in Toronto anymore! If you're tired of commuting, I work in both the Barrie and GTA markets and I can get you back to a bigger mortgage and a shorter drive to work. Just call me. Until that happens though, let me make living in Barrie even better by helping you get through the nightmare of a Highway 400 closure on your morning or afternoon commute: Legal Disclaimer: Please choose the route most appropriate to your vehicle, your driving skills, and road conditions at the time. The key to surviving a Hwy 400 closure is to choose the right exit point and the right route. Don't try to get off with everyone else where the OPP are diverting traffic off of the 400. Get off at the exit BEFORE that one. If the radio says it's closed for more than two exits, just call whoever is expecting you and tell them you're not coming. Turn around and find a party. You'll never get there anyway, so you might as well have some fun and have a story to tell. If they're telling you to get off at one exit, and back on at the next one though, follow these routes:

Going South QUICK-EXIT GUIDE Closed at: Get off at: Aurora Road Hwy 88 Hwy 9 Hwy 88 Canal Road Hwy 88 Dunlop St Bayfield Essa Road Dunlop Hwy 88 Hwy 89 Hwy 89 Innisfil Beach Road Innisfil Beach Road Essa Road Mapleview Essa Road About sideroads/concession roads

Closed at Dunlop Street If you have time to plan your route, start here: Get off the 400 at Bayfield Street. Keep going straight and cross Bayfield Street, when the light is green! If it's snowing, stop at Canadian Tire and pick up some windshield washer fluid, otherwise pass by it and follow Coulter Street around to Cundles. Turn left onto Cundles. Keep going west on Cundles to Anne Street. Turn south (left) onto Anne Street. Stay on Anne until you get to Edgehill Drive at the bottom of the hill. Turn west (right) onto Edgehill Drive and stay on it until you get to Ferndale Drive. Turn south (left) onto Ferndale. Follow Ferndale through the conservation area to Essa Road, where you will turn North (left) and drive to the southbound 400 onramp (left lane exits.) If you were just forced off the 400 at Dunlop street, start here: The most time consuming part of this route will be getting across the bridge over the 400. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right and head east on Dunlop Street. Cross over the 400 and take the first right, turning into the plaza. Go through the plaza parking lot and turn right onto Hart Drive. It runs parallel to the 400 so you should get to see why you were forced off as you drive by. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Tiffin Street. Go under the 400 and turn left at the next traffic lights, to go south on Patterson Road. Go up the hill and turn left at the lights at Ardagh Road. Stay on Ardagh until the next lights at Essa Road. Turn left onto Essa Road and left onto the southbound ramp to the 400.

Closed at Essa Road If you have time to plan your route, start here: Take the Dunlop Street exit and turn left (West) onto Dunlop/Hwy 90. The majority of traffic will ge getting off at Essa and heading down Essa Road to Mapleview. From Dunlop St, turning south on Ferndale seems like a logical route but you'll just end up in the gridlock on Essa, Veterans Drive and on Mapleview through the power centre. Avoid the aggravation by continuing West on Hwy 90 and turning left (South) onto Hwy 27 at the Bradford Greenhouse. Stay on Hwy 27 until it meets the end of Essa Road. Turn South and stay on Hwy 27 for about a kilometer, then turn left (East) at the next road, Concession 10. At the 5th Sideroad, turn right (South) again and take that road to the traffic lights at Innisfil Beach Road. Turn left and get back on Hwy 400. If an accident forced you off at Essa Road, start here: It won't be pretty, but it's the best of a bad situation. Turn south onto Essa Road and follow everyone else. At the third traffic lights, turn left onto Veteran's Drive. Stay in the right lane and cross Mapleview. Everyone else will be turning left onto it. Stay on Veterans Drive as it becomes the 5th Sideroad. Turn left at Innisfill Beach Road and get back onto the 400 there.

Closed at Mapleview If you have time to plan your route, start here: Get off at Essa. Turn south onto Essa (right.) At Veterans/Ferndale (2nd lights) turn left. Stay south on Veterans. When you cross Mapleview, you'll join the pack of cars being diverted off of the 400. They will be very evil-tempered after spending two hours getting get through the commercial section of Mapleview to that intersection, which you avoided with my help. For your safety, please remember that the closer you get to Toronto, the higher the percentage of people carrying guns. Don't cut anybody off! At the next Concession, turn east (left) onto Concession 10. Cross the 400 and then turn south (right) onto the 10th Sideroad. Stay on that road until you get to Innisfil Beach Road (first traffic lights.) At that intersection turn right and take the southbound ramp to the 400. If you were just forced off the 400 at Mapleview Drive, start here: Whatever you do, don't turn right at the end of the exit ramp. Turn East (left) onto Mapleview Drive. Get out of the herd at the next traffic lights by turning South (right) onto Bayview Drive. At the second traffic lights, turn East (left) onto Saunders Road. At the dead-end, turn South (right) onto the 10 Sideroad/Huronia Road. Stay on that road until Innisfil Beach Road where you will turn West (right) and then right onto the southbound onramp to the 400.

Closed at Innisfil Beach Road If you have time to plan your route, start here: This is my favourite alternate route because it's so secret and so easy to do. Don't get off at Mapleview, despite my previous advice about taking the exit before the closure. There are too many traffic lights on Mapleview. Instead, get off at the second exit north of the closure, at Essa Road. Go south on Essa until you get to Veteran's Drive/Ferndale. Turn left. Stay on Veterans until you cross Innisfil Beach Road. That's where you'll pick up all of the traffic coming off of the 400. If an accident forced you off at Innisfil Beach Road, start here: Turn right (West) and then immediately left (South) onto the 5th Sideroad (Veterans Drive coming out of Barrie.) There will be a 5 mile long line of cars waiting to get onto Hwy 89, but you won't be one of them because you're going to turn left on the 4th Concession, cross over the 400, and take the invisible secret road. When the bridge over the 400 ends, turn right into what looks like a small parking lot. It's really a road but they did a wierd paving job, and it drops off at the back so nobody can see the roadway. Go south on it to Highway 89. You will likely be the only car on it. Turn right, cross the 400, and get to work!

Closed at Highway 89 If you have time to plan your route, start here: Get off the 400 at Innisfil Beach Road, turn right (West) and then turn south on the next road, the 5th Sideroad of Innisfil. It runs down to Hwy 89, but that's where all of the traffic coming off the 400 will be. There will be a 5 mile line-up of cars waiting to get onto Hwy 89, but you won't be one of them because you're going to turn left (East) on the 4th Concession, cross over the 400, and take the invisible secret road. When the bridge over the 400 ends, turn right into what looks like a small parking lot. It's really a road but they did a wierd paving job, and it drops off at the back so nobody can see the roadway. That road takes you down to Hwy 89, and you'll be the only one waiting at the stop sign to get onto 89. Turn right (West) and turn south again on the 5th Sideroad. Check your rearview mirror and notice the lineup of cars that would have included you. Then thank your own personal spiritual being that you found my website! If you were just forced off the 400 at Hwy 89, start here: You'll need to end up on the East side of the 400, but instead of being bumper to bumper going East on 89, you're going to turn West instead, and end up being the only car going East on my alternate route. After turning west onto Hwy 89, turn south at the next road, the 5th Sideroad of Innisfil and Bradford/West Gwillimbury. Enjoy the scenery and continue down the 5th Sideroad until you get to the 11th Concession road. Turn left (East) there and cross the 400 again. It's a zig zag route. I know, but it's faster and less frustrating in the end. Turn right (South) onto the 10th Sideroad and join the lineup of cars waiting for the lights at Hwy 88. It will take a long time, but be patient. There is no better route. Don't go as far as 88 though. Watch for Concession 8 and turn right at it! The Concession roads in Bradford/West Gwilimbury run east to west, but Concession 8 goes west as far as the 400, then does a mysterious southern turn and becomes McKinstry Road, and drops you on Hwy 88 next to the 400. Turn right and get back onto the 400 after crossing the bridge. The 8th Concession/McKinstry alternate lets you avoid the bumper to bumper action on Hwy 88, but it's a dirt road. If it's raining, people at work will notice the mud. Then you can tell them about your experience beating the traffic on the secret backroads, and about the awesome website where you found the route!

Closed at Highway 88 If you have time to plan your route, start here: There is no good alternate East of the 400. You'll end up crossing the 400 at 88 and end up in a mess with everyone else. Your best route is to exit at Highway 89. Turn South (left) at the 5th Sideroad, then West (right) onto the 8th Concession/Beeton Road. You'll need traffic lights to get onto 27 and there are only two controlled intersections north of 88 to do that: Cookstown (89/27) and the 8th Concession. Turn South (left) onto Hwy 27 at the lights. In a winter closure, say on Hwy 27 until the 2nd Concession/Leonards Road. Turn left there and take it to Hwy 9 where you can turn left, admittedly with a bit of a wait, and go East until the 400 (right lane exits.) In a summer closure, and IF the Canal Road ramp is open, stay on Hwy 27 through Bond Head and then turn East (left) onto the 4th or 3rd Concession Road. At the 5th Sideroad (the sign actually says SideLine, go figure) turn South (right) and follow it to Canal Road. Turn East (left) and follow Canal Road to the southbound ramp to the 400. If you've just been forced off the 400 at Hwy 88, start here: Take the West exit, to go West on Hwy 88, but don't follow all of the other cars going West or South, even if they are moving. Turn North (right) onto the 5th Sideroad and then turn West (left) at the first road, Concession 8/Beeton Road. At the lights at Hwy 27, turn South (left) and follow Hwy 27 through Bond Head. In a winter closure, stay on Hwy 27 until the 2nd Concession/Leonards Road. Turn left there and take it to Hwy 9 where you can turn left, admittedly with a bit of a wait, and go East until the 400 (right lane exits.) In a summer closure, and IF the Canal Road ramp is open, stay on Hwy 27 through Bond Head and then turn East (left) onto the 4th or 3rd Concession Road. At the 5th Sideroad (the sign actually says SideLine, go figure) turn South (right) and follow it to Canal Road. Turn East (left) and follow Canal Road to the southbound ramp to the 400.

Closed at Canal Road If you have time to plan your route, start here: Take the West exit to Hwy/County Road 88. Follow 88 West to Bond Head and turn South (left) onto Hwy 27. Stay on Hwy 27 until the 2nd Concession/Leonards Road (get ready to turn where the road begins to curve.) Turn left there and take Leonards Road South to Hwy 9 where you can turn left, admittedly with a bit of a wait, and go East to the 400 (right lane exits.) If you've just been forced off the 400 at Canal Road, start here: DO NOT try the alternates East of the 400. You'll end up on Hwy 11/Yonge Street and lose an hour at best, or at worst, get lost like I did one morning on the way to work. If you can, take one of the arterial roads that run parallel to the 400 (Wist Road or Davis Road) and go south to Canal Bank Road. Turn East (left) and follow Canal Bank Road to Jane Street. Turn South (right) and take Jane Street to Hwy 9, then turn West (right) onto Hwy 9 and get back on the southbound 400 (right lane exits.) A serious incident on the 400 in the Hollard Marsh can close the arterial roads too. If you can't take Wist or Davis, go West on Canal Road to Hwy 9, turn East (left) when you can, and get back on the southbound 400 (right lane exits.) If your only option is to go East on Canal Road, get back on the 400, northbound this time, and take the West exit at Hwy 88, then follow my southbound directions above for being forced off at Hwy 88.

Closed at Hwy 9 If you have time to plan your route, start here: Since the Aurora Road and Hwy 9 exits are so close together, a closure at either of them has the same affect on southbound flow. Traffic will come to a halt just south of Hwy/County Road 88, thereby creating the exception that proves my rule about getting off one exit sooner. Take the second exit sooner, and take the West exit to Hwy/Cty Rd 88. The Hollard Marsh might be a great place to grow vegetables, but it's a huge obstacle to traffic. On the West side, taking the Canal Road routes parallel to the 400 doesn't really save any time. If traffic is backed up north of Hwy 88 and there are tons of cars exiting at 88, follow the instructions for Just forced off at Hwy 88 If there are only a few cars exiting at Hwy 88 though, take the Hwy/Cty Rd 88 West exit and go West on 88 until you get to Highway 27. Turn left at the lights at Bond Head and drive south. Stay southbound on Hwy 27 until you get to Hwy 9. Turn East (left) at Hwy 9 and watch for Leanard's Road on the left. Pass it and get ready to turn South (right) onto Concession 8. Follow Concession 8 to Aurora Road where you will turn East (left) and follow Aurora Road to the 400 (right lane exits.) If you've just been forced off at Hwy 9, start here: You have two southbound options parallel to the 400. Jane Street, to the East, has a problematic light at Kettleby. You'll wait there for an hour. Your best option is to go West. Follow Hwy 9 West for about a kilometer and then turn South (left) onto Weston Road. At Aurora Road, turn East (left) then get back onto the 400 (right lane exits.)

Closed at Aurora Road If you have time to plan your route, start here: Since the Aurora Road and Hwy 9 exits are so close together, a closure at either exit in rush hour will have the same affect on southbound flow. Traffic will come to a halt just south of Hwy/County Road 88, thereby creating the exception that proves my rule about getting off one exit sooner. Get off three exits sooner and take the West exit to Hwy/Cty Rd 88. If traffic is backed up north of Hwy 88 and there are tons of cars exiting at 88, follow the instructions for Just forced off at Hwy 88 If traffic is still moving freely going past 88, take the Hwy/Cty Rd 88 West exit and go West. Keep going West on 88 until you get to Highway 27. Turn left at the lights at Bond Head and drive south on 27 to Hwy 9. Turn East (left) onto Hwy 9. Watch for Leanards Road on the left. When you see it, get ready to turn the other way, and turn South onto Concession 8. At the carwash, at Aurora Road, turn East (left,) cross over the 400 and turn South (right) onto Jane Street. From Aurora Road, turn South (right) onto Jane Street and follow it to King Road where you will turn West (right) at the lights and then right again onto the southbound 400 onramp. Those people coming the other way, waiting to turn left onto the ramp, will have been there for hours. If you've just been forced off at Aurora Road, start here: Turn East (left) onto Aurora Road. Everyone else will be going West, but you'll thank me when they're waiting for you at King Road. From Aurora Road, turn South (right) onto Jane Street and follow it to King Road where you will turn West (right) at the lights and then right again onto the southbound 400 onramp. Those people coming the other way, waiting to turn left onto the ramp, will have been there for hours.

Going North QUICK-EXIT GUIDE Closed at: Get off at: South of Aurora Road Take Your Pick Aurora Road King Road Bayfield Street Dunlop Street East exit Canal Road Hwy 9 Dunlop Street Essa Road Essa Road Innisfil Beach Road Hwy 9 King Road Hwy 88/Cnty Rd 88 Hwy 9 Hwy 89 Hwy 88/Cnty Rd 88 Innisfil Beach Road Hwy 89 Mapleview  Innisfil Beach Road About Sideroads/Concession Roads

Closures south of Aurora Road: South of Aurora Road, the roads running parallel to the 400 (Weston on the west side, Jane to the east) are equivalent alternates and your patience will be equally taxed on either one. There is an exception though, if you're being forced off the 400 at Major Mac or the new Teston Road exchange. For northbound traffic on Weston Road, there is a huge bottleneck at King Road (at the quaint village of Laskay which on a non-closure day is worth taking the time to see, and maybe buy a house. Call me.) If the closure is at King Road and you're getting off at Major MacKenzie to avoid the 400-crawl to the King Road exit, Weston is the better alternate, especially if southbound traffic is being forced of at King Road too. If you're being forced off at Major MacKenzie Drive, listen to the radio traffic reports while you're crawling to the exit. You need to know if only the northbound lanes are closed, or if southbound lanes are closed too. If only the northbound lanes are closed, turn East (right) onto Major Mac, and then North (left) onto Jane Street. Stay on Jane until King Road. Turn West (left) at King road and get back on the 400 (left lane exits.) If southbound traffic is also being stopped (at King Road) turn East (right) on Major Mac, cross Jane and turn left onto Keele Street in desirable downtown Maple. Call me. (There's a short-cut to Keele, if you see the sign in time. Turn left on McNaughton Road and then left onto Keele north of Maple.) Drive North on Keele Street. Go through King City and continue on Keele. Enjoy the drive. It's the most amazing country-road drive. Watch the side-road signs. If you want to gawk at amazing country mansions, turn West (left) onto the 16th Sideroad. If you just want to get home, stay on Jane and turn West (left) onto the 17th Sideroad. Take either the 16th or 17th West to Jane Street. Turn right onto Jane and continue to Aurora Road. If you love history and ancient houses, turn right at the gas-station and check out the Kettleby Village. If you just want to get home, turn left onto Aurora Road and drive to the 400 exit. (Right lane exits.)

Closed at Aurora Road If you have time to plan your route, start here: Exit the 400 at King Road. Only turn East to Jane St if the police direct you to it. Otherwise, turn West (left) onto King Road, then turn North (right) onto Weston Road. You'll pick up the traffic coming off of the 400 at Aurora Road. You'll be slowed down a bit by them but it's the best alternative. Cross Aurora road and continue north on Weston Road. At Highway 9, turn East (right) and follow Hwy 9 to Hwy 400 (left lane exits.) If you've just been forced off the 400 at Aurora Road, do this: Turn West (left) onto Aurora Road and continue to Weston Road. Turn North (right) and follow the crowd to Hwy 9, where you will turn East (right) then back onto the 400 (left lane exits.)

Closed at Hwy 9 If you have time to plan your route, start here: Exit the 400 at Aurora Road and turn West (left) onto Aurora Road. Don't go up Weston Road. Continue on Aurora Road through picturesque Pottageville and on to Highway 27. Turn North (right) onto Hwy 27 and take it north to Country Road 88, formerly known as Hwy 28. At 88, turn East (right) and follow it to the 400. The right lane exits and it's one of the most dangerous on-ramps to the 400 because traffic exiting the 400 is slowing down in front of you as you're trying to accelerate, and the lane ends abruptly. The only traffic coming up behind you will be the people trickling onto the 400 from the Canal Road onramp, so you shouldn't get rear-ended. If you've just been forced off the 400 at Highway 9, do this: Turn West (left) onto Highway 9 and continue on it to Hwy 27, or preferably to Leonard's Road (just after the 8th Concession.) Turn north on Leonard's Road, follow it to Hwy 27, then turn North (right.) (You'll notice line-ups of frustrated drivers coming off the roads to the east. Those are the people who went through the Hollard Marsh and who haven't been to my website.) Stay on Hwy 27 until Country Road 88, at picturesque Bond Head, where you will turn East (right.) Stay on 88 until you get back to Hwy 400. The right lane exits and it's one of the most dangerous on-ramps to the 400 because traffic exiting the 400 is slowing down in front of you as you're trying to accelerate, and the lane ends abruptly. The only traffic coming up behind you will be the people trickling onto the 400 from the Canal Road onramp, so you shouldn't get rear-ended.

Closed at Canal Road If you have time to plan your route, start here: Take the Hwy 9 exit and go West (left) on Hwy 9 to Leonard's Road (just after the 8th Concession.) Take Leonard's Road North to Hwy 27, then Hwy 27 North to County Road 88 at Bond Head. Turn East (right) and stay on 88 until the 400 (right lane exits.) If you've just been forced off the 400 at Canal Road, start here: Do not try the roads East of the 400 through the Holland Marsh. Ever. If you can, turn left at the end of the exit ramp, then left again, and get back on the southbound 400. If that's blocked, stay on Davis Road (parallels the 400) until Canal Bank Road, then turn West (right) and the West again onto Hwy 9. Take Hwy 9 West to Leonard's Road (just after the 8th Concession.) Take Leonard's Road North to Hwy 27, then Hwy 27 North to County Road 88 at Bond Head. Turn East (right) and stay on 88 until the 400 (right lane exits.)

Closed at Hwy/County Road 88 If you have time to plan your route, start here: Get off at the Hwy 9 exit and turn West (left) onto Hwy 9. Just before Hwy 27, turn North (right) onto Leonard's Road. Follow it north to Hwy 27. Turn North (right) onto Hwy 27 and stay on it until Cookstown. Turn right on Kidds Lane (the first street on the right,) then left onto Heritage Lane, and then left onto Cook Street. At Hwy 89, turn East (right) and stay on it until the 400 (right lane exits.) If you've just been forced off the 400 at Country Road 88, start here: Take the second exit at Hwy 88 and go West. Turn North (right) onto the 5th Sideroad and then West (left) onto Concession 8 (the Beeton Road.) Turn North (right) onto Hwy 27 and stay with it until Cookstown. At Cookstown, turn right onto Kidds Lane (the first street on the right,) then left onto Heritage Lane, and then left on Cook Street. At Hwy 89, turn East (right) and stay on it until the 400 (right lane exits.)

Closed at Hwy 89 If you have time to plan your route, start here: Get off at the Simcoe Road/Hwy 88 West exit (second exit) and go West on 88. Turn North (right) onto the 5th Sideroad, just past the Yogi Bear Campground. It seems logical to stay on the 5th Sideroad until you get to Hwy 89, but you'll never get across 89 with all of the traffic being forced off at 89. You'll first have to go West on one of the concession roads and get onto Hwy 27. Your best option is the Beeton Road, otherwise known as Concession 8. Enjoy the view from the big hill, turn North onto Hwy 27 at the traffic lights, and stay on it through Cookstown (hang up your impatience at the door) and turn East (right) onto Innisfil Beach Road at Thornton. The right lane exits to get you back on the 400. If you've just been forced off the 400 at Hwy 89, start here: Never turn East. Turn West (left) at the end of the exit ramp. Turn North (right) onto the 5th Sideroad and stay on it until Innisfil Beach Road. Turn East (right) and get back on the 400. Right lane exits. There's another alternate: go straight at the end of the exit ramp, then turn West at the 4th Concession Road, but you've got to make a right into the traffic coming North on the 5th Concession Road. The time you save by taking the nameless road likely equal the time you sit there waiting.

Closed at Innisfil Beach Road If you have time to plan your route, start here: Exit the 400 at Hwy 89 and turn West (left) onto 89. Turn North (right) onto the 5th Sideroad. The traffic being forced off of the 400 will grind you to a halt on this road at IBR, so turn West (left) on any of the paved concessions road along it. The 4th is a good choice. At Hwy 27, turn North (right) and stay on it until it becomes Essa Road and meets the 400 (right lane exits to North 400.) If you've just been forced off the 400 at Innisfil Beach Road, start here: Don't turn right. You'll never get to turn North into oncoming traffic on the 10th Sideroad. Instead, turn West (left) and then North (right) onto the 5th Sideroad. I'd highly recommend stopping at Georgian Downs and trying to turn your luck around there, but if you're determined to get where you're going, follow the 5th Sideroad until it becomes Veteran's Drive. At Essa Road, turn North (right) and follow Essa Road to the 400 (right lane exits.)

Closed at Mapleview If you have time to plan your route, start here: Get off at Innisfil Beach Road, and turn West (left) onto it, then North (right) onto the 5th Sideroad. At Salem Road/11th Concession, turn West (left) and follow it to Hwy 27. Turn North (right) and follow it as it becomes Essa Road and meets the 400 (right lane exits.) If you've just been forced off the 400 at Mapleview, start here: There are routes through the power-centre that look shorter than mine, on the map, but the wider roads can handle more of the volume coming off of the 400, and the real problem isn't getting off of the 400 in the middle of Barrie, it's getting back on. Everyone else will be on Essa. You shouldn't be. Stay in the left lane on the Mapleview Exit and turn West onto Mapleview. At Canadian Tire, get into the right lane, and turn North (right) onto Veteran's Drive. Cross Essa where Veteran's becomes Ferndale Drive, enjoy the view going down the hill, and through the nature reserve, and then turn East (right) onto Dunlop Street. Follow it to the 400 (left lane exits.)

Closed at Essa Road If you have time to plan your route, start here: Get off of the 400 at Mapleview Drive and turn West (left) then North (right) onto Veterans Drive. Stay on Veterans as it crosses Essa, and follow it through the conservation area to Tiffin Street. Turn East (right) onto Tiffin and after coming out from under the 400 bridge, turn North (left) onto Dyment/Hart Drive. Follow it to Dunlop Street, then turn West (left) onto Dunlop and immediately get into the right lane to get back onto the 400 northbound. If you've just been forced off the 400 at Essa Road, start here: At the end of the Essa exit ramp, turn left, not right like everyone else. At Ardagh Road, turn West (right) and then take the next right and follow Morrow Road to Patterson Road. Turn North (right) and then East (right) at the lights, onto Tiffin. Turn left just after the 400 bridge onto Dyment/Hart Drive. Follow it to Dunlop Street, then turn West (left) onto Dunlop and immediately get into the right lane to get back onto the 400 northbound.

Closed at Dunlop Street If you have time to plan your route, start here: Get off at Essa Road and turn North (right.) Take Essa Road to Tiffin Street, then turn East (right) and then North (left) at the next lights, onto Lakeshore Drive. From the view, you'll understand why everyone is moving to Barrie. Lakeshore wraps around the Grand Harbour Condominium and becomes Toronto Street. Stay on Toronto Street and turn North (right) onto Wellington Street, then West (left) onto Bayfield Street, and then back onto the 400 (right lane exits.) If you've just been forced off the 400 at Dunlop street, start here: Take the East (first) exit to Dunlop Street and stay in the right lane on Dunlop, crossing Anne Street. Turn North (left) onto either the first or second street, then left again onto Donald Street. Turn right onto Wellington Street and follow it to Bayfield Street (at the Remax Office.) Turn West (left) onto Bayfield Street and follow it to the 400 (right lane exits.)

Closed at Bayfield Street If you have time to plan your route, start here: Get off at the Dunlop Street East (first) exit and get into the left lane. Turn North (left) onto Anne Street and follow it up the hill. At the top of the hill, turn East (right) onto Cundles Road. You'll pick up the 400 refugees when you cross Bayfield, but it's the best alternate because of it's 4 lane capacity. At Duckworth Street, turn East (right) and get back onto the 400 after going under the bridge (right lane exits.) If you've just been forced off the 400 at Bayfield Street, start here: Move into the right lane on the exit ramp. At the end of the ramp, if the road is open, go straight and cross Bayfield Street, then turn right onto Rose Street. Stay on Rose Street until Duckworth Street, then turn West (left) and get back on the 400 (left lane exits.) If the barrier prevents you from crossing Bayfield Street, turn right onto Bayfield Street then left onto Grove Street. Turn left again on Davidson (at Barrie North Collegiate) then right on Rose Street. Turn North (left) onto Duckworth Street and get back on the 400 (left lane exits.)

Concession Roads and Sideroads In the 1600's, Lord Simcoe send surveyors out to divide the Province of Ontario up into Counties, Townships, Concessions and Lots. The province was divided up into large districts and counties first. Then each County was divided up into a number of Townships. They are generally rectangular, but sometimes they have a variation on one side for a natural obstacle, such as Lake Simcoe in Innisfil Township. The rectangular Townships were then divided into 100 acre lots (farms.) A Concession is one row of 100 acre lots (farms.) The row can run either from the top to the bottom of the Township, or, from one side of the Township to the other. The roads that separate the Concessions are called Concession Roads (which the locals also call "Lines," I suspect just to mess with the heads of the lost city people who ask for directions.) There is no zero road, so the road between the neighbouring township and the first Concession is the First Concession Road. (It's usually called the "Townline" or has been turned into a named road, like Bob's Road or, in Innisfil, Hwy 88 and Hwy 89.) The Second Concession Road separates the First and Second Concessions, the Third separates the Second and Third etc. The Concession roads, therefore, all run in the same direction, either east-west or north-south, depending on which township you're in. If you're on a Concession road, you know that if you turn left or right, you'll get to the lower or higher Concession Road. But turn on what? You guessed it! Sideroads. The 100 acre lots that make up a Concession are separated by a sideroad allowance, running perpendicular to the Concession Road allowances. When you drive through the countryside, those rows of tall trees that separate the farms aren't there to keep the cows on their own farm. That's where the sideroad allowance is. Usually only about every 5th Sideroad is actually turned into a road. The point of all this is, the Concession roads are parallel and run in one direction, while the Sideroads are also parallel and run at 90 degrees to the Concession roads. Without knowing that, it can be mindboggling listening to instructions for 10th this and 8th that. In King Township, the Sideroads run East to West. In all of the other townships I mention in my alternates, the Sideroads run North to South. Back to southbound 400 Alternates

How to Sell a House for More	What's Your House Worth?
Selling a Country Cottage	Selling an Older House
Nine Costs of Selling Privately	Discount Commissions

Concession Roads and Sideroads In the 1600's, Lord Simcoe send surveyors out to divide the Province of Ontario up into Counties, Townships, Concessions and Lots. The province was divided up into large districts and counties first. Then each County was divided up into a number of Townships. They are generally rectangular, but sometimes they have a variation on one side for a natural obstacle, such as Lake Simcoe in Innisfil Township. The rectangular Townships were then divided into 100 acre lots (farms.) A Concession is one row of 100 acre lots (farms.) The row can run either from the top to the bottom of the Township, or, from one side of the Township to the other. The roads that separate the Concessions are called Concession Roads (which the locals also call "Lines," I suspect just to mess with the heads of the lost city people who ask for directions.) There is no zero road, so the road between the neighbouring township and the first Concession is the First Concession Road. (It's usually called the "Townline" or has been turned into a named road, like Bob's Road or, in Innisfil, Hwy 88 and Hwy 89.) The Second Concession Road separates the First and Second Concessions, the Third separates the Second and Third etc. The Concession roads, therefore, all run in the same direction, either east-west or north-south, depending on which township you're in. If you're on a Concession road, you know that if you turn left or right, you'll get to the lower or higher Concession Road. But turn on what? You guessed it! Sideroads. The 100 acre lots that make up a Concession are separated by a sideroad allowance, running perpendicular to the Concession Road allowances. When you drive through the countryside, those rows of tall trees that separate the farms aren't there to keep the cows on their own farm. That's where the sideroad allowance is. Usually only about every 5th Sideroad is actually turned into a road. The point of all this is, the Concession roads are parallel and run in one direction, while the Sideroads are also parallel and run at 90 degrees to the Concession roads. Without knowing that, it can be mindboggling listening to instructions for 10th this and 8th that. In King Township, the Sideroads run East to West. In all of the other townships I mention in my alternates, the Sideroads run North to South. Back to Northbound 400 Alternates

How to Sell a House for More	What's Your House Worth?
Selling a Country Cottage	Selling an Older House
Nine Costs of Selling Privately	Discount Commissions

Bill Rinehart

705 436-5111

Toll Free 1-877-436-5111