The East-West highway from Guelph to Brampton which is in the conceptual stages at the MTO will impact any future numbering changes. In the long-term the route from Brampton - Guelph - Kitchener - Baden should have the same number (eventually Stratford). 408
This leaves Hwy 6 (Burlington - Guelph) with one number and the highway from Hwy 7/8 & 401 - Kitchener - St Jacobs (Hwy 85) with one number
The whole highway situation in K-W makes numbering a pain, because the only route that is truly N-S is the connector between the 401 and 7/8. 7/8+85 runs just as much E-W as it does N-S, and same with the Guelph-Kitchener connector + the Hanlon. I guess it all depends on how you see them grouped together.
To me, the 7/8+85 combo is the backbone of the K-W area, and thus should be numbered as one highway. The 7+6 combo is a bypass route for the 401 to access K-W, and to access Guelph, hence it should be numbered as one highway. That leaves the connector between 7/8 and the 401 as the "odd man out", so it should be numbered independently.
Also, even if the Brampton-Guelph highway were being built (which it isn't), I would think the Province would likely number it as an odd-numbered highway, to keep with the general numbering convention (for which the 427 is the most glaring exception), since it would be an entirely E-W highway.
Even in the reduced figure shown, I don't see enough ramps for that.
Didn't someone post detailed plans once, that clearly showed 4 carriageways?
I remember seeing that too. Basically, it was an express-collector type of setup, where the Highway 6 lanes were the "collector" lanes, and the 401 thru lanes were the "express". There were weaves put in place between 6N and 6S for vehicles to access the 401, and vice versa.
Basically though, vehicles staying on 6 would never have to merge with 401 thru lanes.