Planning for Highway 409 took place in the late 1960s amidst considerable controversy around its originally proposed path through the historic town of Malton.

The original name of the freeway was derived from Belfield Road, which runs parallel to and north of the highway in Toronto from Kipling Avenue to Atwell Drive.

While it is not intended as a commuter route, there are three exits serving industrial areas in Etobicoke centred on the highway.

Around the interchange with Martin Grove Road, the freeway twists slightly to the north and south between factories and warehouses.

The 45-metre-wide (148 ft) strip of land would require the expropriation and demolition of 50 houses, as well as several businesses, a school, and two community parks.

[7] However, at the same time, Toronto was embroiled in heated debate over the fate of its planned urban expressway system.

[9][10] Before plans for the new route were finalized, a flyover was built to provide access from Belfield Road to eastbound Highway 401, opening on October 7, 1968.

[13] Highway 409 first opened to traffic by 1976, with temporary ramps at Carlingview Avenue acting as the western terminus.

Prior to that, an at-grade intersection crossed the northbound lanes of Highway 427, controlled by a traffic signal.

[1] The GTAA purchased this section of the highway in 2000 in order to rebuild the approaches to the new Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson Airport.