List of secondary highways in Algoma District explained

This is a list of secondary highways in Algoma District, most of which serve as logging roads or provide access to isolated and sparsely populated areas in the Algoma District of northeastern Ontario. Some of the shorter ones are also access routes for communities with moderate amounts of tourism, most famously St. Joseph Island's highway 548.

Highway 519

See main article: Ontario Highway 519.

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:519
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Length Km:30.5
Length Ref:[1]
Direction A:West
Terminus A: near Obatanga Provincial Park
Direction B:East
Terminus B:Dubreuilville
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:518
Next Type:ON
Next Route:520

Secondary Highway 519, commonly referred to as Highway 519, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The highway is 30.5km (19miles) in length, connecting Highway 17 near Obatanga Provincial Park with Dubreuilville station. A private logging road continues east from there.

Highway 519 was assumed in 1956, and has remained unchanged since then. The route is gravel surface throughout its length and encounters no communities of any size along its length, aside from Dubreuilville.

Highway 532

See main article: Ontario Highway 532.

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:532
Length Km:14.2
Established:1974
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Direction A:South
Terminus A: near Glendale
Direction B:North
Terminus B:Christina Mine Road
Towns:Searchmont
Villages:Wabos
Counties:Algoma District
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:531
Next Type:ON
Next Route:533

Secondary Highway 532, commonly referred to as Highway 532, is a provincially maintained secondary highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The route connects several mining and milling towns in Unorganized Algoma District, notably Searchmont. The route is remote, ending at a mine access road north of Highway 556, its southern terminus.

A former designation of Highway 532 travelled through Muskoka along the Parry Sound Colonization Road and was redesignated as Highway 141 in 1974. At that time, the present route was established following what was until then a segment of Highway 556. It has remained unchanged since then.

Highway 538

See main article: Ontario Highway 538.

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:538
Length Km:5.6
Established:1956
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Direction A:West
Terminus A: at Algoma Mills
Direction B:East
Terminus B: between Algoma Mills and Pronto
Towns:North Shore
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:537
Next Type:ON
Next Route:539

Secondary Highway 538, commonly referred to as Highway 538, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The highway is in length and follows an older alignment of Highway 17 east of Blind River, between the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks and the shoreline of the North Channel of Lake Huron, while the present Highway 17 runs north of the railway tracks. The route was designated in 1956 and has remained unchanged since.

Highway 546

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:546
Towns:Iron Bridge, Parkinson
Length Km:76.5
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Direction A:Southwest
Terminus A: at Iron Bridge
Junction: north of Elliot Lake
Direction B:Northeast
Terminus B:Mount Lake
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:545
Next Type:ON
Next Route:547

Secondary Highway 546, commonly referred to as Highway 546, is a secondary highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Located within the Algoma District, the highway extends for 76.5km (47.5miles) from a junction with Highway 17 at Iron Bridge to Mount Lake, 12.5km (07.8miles) northeast of a junction with Highway 639 north of Elliot Lake.

Between the intersections with Highway 17 and Highway 639, the highway is part of the Deer Trail tourist route. From north of the intersection with Highway 554, it follows the Little White River.

Highway 547

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:547
Length Km:5.6
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Established:February27, 1964[2]
Counties:Algoma District
Direction A:South
Terminus A: near Wawa
Direction B:North
Terminus B:Cedar Street in Hawk Junction
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:546
Next Type:ON
Next Route:548

Secondary Highway 547, commonly referred to as Highway 547, is a secondary highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Located within the Algoma District, the highway spans a distance of, connecting the community of Hawk Junction to Highway 101 near Wawa.

Highway 548

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:548
Length Km:74.6
Direction A:North
Terminus A: near Desbarats
Direction B:South
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:547
Next Type:ON
Next Route:550

Secondary Highway 548, commonly referred to as Highway 548, is a secondary highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Despite the route's secondary highway designation, it is the main and most important highway of St. Joseph Island. This highway consists of the Bernt Gilbertson Bridge to the island and a continuous loop route that circles the island.

The highway connects the hamlets of Richard's Landing and Hilton Beach, and guides tourists to Fort St. Joseph. Between the bridge road and Richard's Landing, as well as along the bridge route, it is built up to King's Highway standards. The remainder of the route is built to secondary highway standards, with a single solid centerline throughout.

North-south segment

The north-south segment of the highway connects the loop segment with Ontario's mainland. To the north, it terminates at Highway 17/Trans Canada Highway, and to the south, it ends at a t-intersection with the loop segment at Kents Corners, south of Highway 17.

Loop segment

The loop segment is a continuous loop around St. Joseph's Island for 69.1km (42.9miles). To aid in navigation and addressing, segments of the loop have been given suffix letters by the local municipalities, which usually correspond to the local road name. For example, the portion of Highway 548 which is signed along D Line is named 548D, along Huron Line is it named 548H, etc.[3]

Highway 550

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:550
Alternate Name:Second Line
Length Km:11.3
Established:1956
Cities:Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Direction A:West
Terminus A:Dead end in Gros Cap, Ontario
Direction B:East
Terminus B: in Sault Ste. Marie
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:548
Next Type:ON
Next Route:550B

Secondary Highway 550, commonly referred to as Highway 550, is a secondary highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. It runs east/west from the city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario to the hamlet of Gros Cap in Prince Township. It is known as Second Line within the Sault's city limits.

Its eastern terminus is an intersection with Highway 17, the Trans-Canada Highway, at the north end of the city. From here it is a four-lane undivided road, used heavily by commercial truck traffic as a link between Highway 17 and Carmen's Way (Highway 550B), the truck bypass linking Second Line with the International Bridge. Trucks are now able to avoid the downtown core by using Highway 17, Highway 550, and Carmen's Way to reach the border with the U.S. Highway 550 reduces to two lanes west of Goulais Avenue. The highway intersects with Highway 565, also known as Airport Road. Highway 550 continues to its western terminus, at a roundabout on the shores of Lake Superior, in Gros Cap.

The MTO maintains the 9.1km (05.7miles) portion of Highway550 west of Town Line Road. A 2.2km (01.4miles) section of Second Line between Carmen's Way and Highway17 (Great Northern Road) is maintained under a Connecting Link agreement.[4] The remainder, between Town Line Road and Carmen's Way, is maintained by the city of Sault Ste. Marie.

Highway 550B

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:550B
Marker Image:none
Alternate Name:Carmen's Way
Length Km:2.88
Cities:Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Direction A:North
Terminus A:Highway 550
Junction:Wellington Street West
Direction B:South
Terminus B:Huron Street near the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge
Maint:the Corporation of the City of Sault Ste. Marie under a Connecting Link agreement with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Spur Of:550
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:550
Next Type:ON
Next Route:551

Secondary Highway 550B, commonly referred to as Carmen's Way, is an unmarked secondary highway in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within the Algoma District. It runs south from Highway 550 2.2km (01.4miles) east of its intersection with Highway 17, the Trans-Canada Highway, to Huron Street near the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge. The highway runs entirely within the city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and is entirely maintained under a Connecting Link agreement.

The highway runs south along Carmen's Way and turns east along Queen Street West until an intersection with Huron Street near the international crossing. The highway is not marked with 550B shields; instead, southbound, it is marked with "To USA" trailblazer shields, and northbound, it is marked with "To 17" trailblazer shields.

Highway 552

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:552
Length Km:18.3
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Counties:Algoma District
Direction A:Southeast
Direction B:Northwest
Terminus A: at Island Lake
Junction: near Karalash Corners
Terminus B:Grant's Road in Goulais Bay
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:551
Next Type:ON
Next Route:553

Secondary Highway 552, commonly referred to as Highway 552, is a secondary highway in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within the Algoma District. Commencing at a junction with Highway 556 in the community of Island Lake, the highway extends northwesterly for to the community of Goulais Bay.

It passes through the communities of Kirby's Corner and Bourdage Corner, and intersects with Highway 17, the main route of the Trans-Canada Highway, just outside Karalash Corners.

Highway 554

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:554
Cities:Kynoch, Parkinson
Length Km:16.6
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Direction A:Northwest
Terminus A: northeast of Wharncliffe
Direction B:Southeast
Terminus B: near Parkinson
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:553
Next Type:ON
Next Route:555

Secondary Highway 554, commonly referred to as Highway 554, is a short secondary highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Located within the Algoma District, the highway extends for 16.6km (10.3miles) from a junction with Highway 129 northeast of Wharncliffe to a junction with Highway 546 near Parkinson. The highway follows the valley of the Little White River for most of its length.

Highway 555

Secondary Highway 555, commonly referred to as Highway 555, is the former designation for a secondary highway in Blind River, which extended from Highway 17 to Granary Lake. The highway also had the street names Woodward Avenue in the main population centre of Blind River, and Granary Lake Road north of Highway 557.

When the route number was removed from the system in the 1990s, the portion of the route south of the Highway 557 intersection was renumbered as an extension of Highway 557. The Granary Lake Road section was entirely decommissioned from the provincial highway system, and now exists only as a local road.

In 1991, the Ministry of Transportation issued a report which proposed that the route be extended to meet Spine Road in Elliot Lake,[5] creating an alternate route which would reduce the length of a commute between Elliot Lake and Blind River by approximately 20 kilometres compared to the current routes of Highway 17 and Highway 108.[5] While the ministry has not announced a plan to proceed with the construction, in 2015 Elliot Lake's city council passed a motion calling for the project to be revived.[5]

Highway 556

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:556
Alternate Name:Searchmont Highway, Ranger Lake Road
Length Km:103.7
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Terminus A: at Heyden
Junction: near Searchmont
Terminus B: near Aubrey Falls
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:555
Next Type:ON
Next Route:557

Secondary Highway 556, commonly referred to as Highway 556 or Ranger Lake Road is a secondary highway in the province of Ontario, Canada. Its western terminus is at Highway 17 in the hamlet of Heyden, just north of Sault Ste. Marie. Its eastern terminus is at Highway 129.

It is in length, of which only 27km (17miles) are paved. This paved section runs from its western terminus to the intersection with Highway 532 near Searchmont and is therefore informally known as the Searchmont Highway. From this point, the highway surface is rough gravel for its remaining length. Ranger Lake is the only community on this portion of Highway 556. Despite its relatively poor surface, it is considered an alternate link between Chapleau and Sault Ste. Marie.

Highway 557

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:557
Length Km:19.7
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Counties:Algoma District
Direction A:South
Terminus A:Granary Lake Road near Blind River
(signed south to Highway17)
Direction B:North
Terminus B:Matinenda Lake
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:556
Next Type:ON
Next Route:558

Secondary Highway 557, commonly referred to as Highway 557, is a secondary highway in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within the Algoma District. Commencing at a junction with Highway 17 in the town of Blind River, the highway extends northerly for 22.9km (14.2miles) to the shore of Matinenda Lake, providing the primary road access to Matinenda Lake Provincial Park as well as to rural parts of the town of Blind River and the neighbouring Mississauga First Nation. The road has the street name Woodward Avenue from Highway 17 to Granary Lake Road, and Matinenda Road west of that intersection.

Prior to the late 1990s, the Woodward Avenue segment of the highway was designated as Highway 555. The 557 designation applied only to Matinenda Road, while the 555 designation continued along Granary Lake Road. When Granary Lake Road was decommissioned from the provincial highway system, the 557 designation was extended along Woodward Avenue rather than the 555 designation being shifted from Granary to Matinenda.

The MTO does not maintain the 3.2km (02miles) section of Highway557 south of the Granary Lake Road intersection through Blind River, This section is signed as part of the highway for continuity to Highway17.

Highway 563

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:563
Length Km:5.5
Counties:Algoma District
Direction A:South
Terminus A:Batchawana Bay government dock at Lake Superior
Direction B:North
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:562
Next Type:ON
Next Route:564

Secondary Highway 563, commonly referred to as Highway 563, is a secondary highway in the Canadian province of Ontario, beginning at Highway 17/Trans Canada Highway about north of Sault Ste. Marie, and following the shoreline of Batchawana Bay. The area is a vacation spot, and Highway 563 goes through the community of the same name as the bay. Batchawana Bay has a church, post office, elementary school, motel, and homes for the permanent residents, among them First Nations people. Near the Hwy 563/17 junction is the Carp River, and there are rental cabins along the riverbank.

Highway 565

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:565
Alternate Name:Airport Road
Length Km:1.6
Cities:Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Direction A:South
Terminus A:Prince/Sault Ste. Marie municipal boundary
Direction B:North
Terminus B: in Prince
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:564
Next Type:ON
Next Route:566

Secondary Highway 565, commonly referred to as Highway 565, is a secondary highway in the Canadian province of Ontario, near Sault Ste. Marie. More commonly known as Airport Road, the highway is approximately in length, shortened from its original length of before municipal downloading. Originally, Highway 565's southern terminus was the intersection of Point-Aux-Pins Road, near the St. Mary's River. It was initially truncated at the entrance to Sault Ste. Marie Airport but now ends at Base Line, at the Sault Ste. Marie-Prince Township boundary.

Highway 631

Secondary Highway 631, commonly referred to as Highway 631, is a secondary highway in the Algoma District of Northern Ontario. This highway is roughly in length, and connects Highway 17 at White River with Highway 11 between Hearst and Longlac.

Highway 631 is a very isolated road. There are no services available nor any development along its entire length except at Hornepayne, the only community situated on it, about 100km (100miles) from White River.

The road was opened on May 26, 1973, costing C$7.5 million to construct. The White River terminus became a subject of brief controversy after it was rerouted to meet Highway 17 within property owned by the town's mayor, Naldo Bracci.[6]

Highway 638

See main article: Ontario Highway 638.

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:638
Cities:Echo Bay, Bruce Mines
Length Km:52.1
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Direction A:Northwest
Terminus A: in Echo Bay
Junction: in Echo Bay
at Ophir
Direction B:Southeast
Terminus B: in Bruce Mines
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:637
Next Type:ON
Next Route:639

Secondary Highway 638, commonly referred to as Highway 638, is a secondary highway located in the District of Algoma in Ontario. The highway measures in length, extending from Echo Bay eastward through the communities of Sylvan Valley, Leeburn and Ophir, where it turns southward and runs south through Rydal Bank, Bruce Station, and finally to its southeastern terminus, also at Highway 17, in the town of Bruce Mines.

Highway 639

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:639
Cities:Elliot Lake
Length Km:23.2
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Direction A:South
Terminus A: at Quirke Mine Road in Elliot Lake
Direction B:North
Terminus B: north of Elliot Lake
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:638
Next Type:ON
Next Route:640

Secondary Highway 639, commonly referred to as Highway 639, is a secondary highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Located within the Algoma District, the highway extends for 23.2km (14.4miles) from the junction of Highway 108 and Quirke Mine Road, near the northern city limits of Elliot Lake, to a junction with Highway 546 north of the city.

The highway does not link the city to any significant residential settlements, but is used primarily as an access road to Mississagi Provincial Park and a few recreational lodges. The highway had an average daily traffic count of just 70 vehicles in 2007.

The highway is a continuation of the same roadway as Highway 108, the main highway into Elliot Lake from the south. It is part of the Deer Trail tourist route.[7]

Highway 651

See main article: Ontario Highway 651.

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:651
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Length Km:52.9
History:Established July 1, 1967
Extended April 30, 1969[8]
Direction A:South
Direction B:North
Terminus B:CPR crossing in Missanabie
Districts:Algoma
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:650
Next Type:ON
Next Route:652

Secondary Highway 651, commonly referred to as Highway 651, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The highway is in length, connecting Highway 101 east of Wawa with the remote community of Missanabie.

Highway 651 was established on Centennial anniversary of Confederation, but did not connect to any other roads originally; access to the route was provided from Missanabie. While this situation has since been remedied, the route nevertheless remains extremely isolated.

Highway 670

Province:ON
Type:Secondary
Route:670
Length Km:9.3
Maint:the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Established:1989
Direction A:West
Direction B:East
Terminus A: at Ophir
Terminus B:Nardi Road at Dunns Valley
Counties:Algoma District
Previous Type:ON
Previous Route:668
Next Type:ON
Next Route:671

Secondary Highway 670, commonly referred to as Highway 670, is a 9.3km (05.8miles) two-lane gravel road running from Highway 638 at Ophir at its western terminus to Dunns Valley at its eastern terminus, which ends at Nardi road. At Highway 670 and Nardi Road, the roadway can continue north to Skookum lake (under a different designation), east along "The Shaw" road to Little Rapids (just north of Thessalon, Ontario) or west, down Nardi road that opens to an 800-acre farm land held within a horseshoe of mountains.

Highway 670 was established in mid- to late 1989, when a 9.5km (05.9miles) segment of Highway 638 between Ophir and Dunns Valley was renumbered.[9] [10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) counts . Ministry of Transportation of Ontario . Ministry of Transportation of Ontario . 2016 . February 1, 2021.
  2. Annual Report . Ontario Department of Highways . March 31, 1964 . Appendix No. 3 - Schedule of Controlled Access Highways . 267.
  3. http://stjosephisland.net/sjivisitors/map.htm St. Joseph Island map
  4. Web site: September 2021 . Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Connecting Links Program 2022-23 Guide . 2024-06-18 . Government of Ontario.
  5. http://www.elliotlakestandard.ca/2015/08/05/council-considers-old-idea-for-new-road "Council considers old idea for new road"
  6. News: Queen's Park Reroutes Highway to Land Owned By Conservative . Robert . Reguly . The Toronto Star . May 29, 1973 . 1.
  7. http://www.onthighways.com/secondary/highway_639.htm Highway 639
  8. A.A.D.T. Traffic Volumes 1955–1969 And Traffic Collision Data 1967–1969 . Department of Highways . 1970 . 145.
  9. Provincial Highways Distance Table . Transportation Capital Branch . Provincial Highways Distance Table: King's Secondary Highways and Tertiary Roads . Ministry of Transportation of Ontario . 1989 . 0825-5350 . 109, 120.
  10. Ontario Road Map . Cartography Section . Ministry of Transportation . 1990–91 . O–P34.