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Ontario has three distinct classes of highways (] ''voie publique''): Ontario has three distinct classes of highways (] ''voie publique''):
<!--(Part II)-->King's Highways, <!--(Part III)-->secondary highways, and <!--(Part IV)-->tertiary roads.<ref name=PTHIA>; R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER P.50</ref> <!--(Part II)-->]s, <!--(Part III)-->secondary highways, and <!--(Part IV)-->tertiary roads.<ref name=PTHIA></ref>
All three classes are legally included in the scope of ''King's Highways'' (] ''route principale''),<ref>Highway Traffic Act; R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER H.8</ref> All three classes are legally included in the scope of ''King's Highways'' (] ''route principale''),<ref>Highway Traffic Act; R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER H.8</ref>
with individual highways referred to as "that part of the King's Highway known as No. xx," or simply "the King's Highway known as No. xx." with individual highways referred to as "that part of the King's Highway known as No. xx," or simply "the King's Highway known as No. xx."
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Both terms are sometimes used within the same regulation as the older term is phased out.<ref>Conservation Authorities Act; R.R.O. 1990, REGULATION 164, Amended to O. Reg. 172/06</ref> Both terms are sometimes used within the same regulation as the older term is phased out.<ref>Conservation Authorities Act; R.R.O. 1990, REGULATION 164, Amended to O. Reg. 172/06</ref>


===King's Highways=== === Controlled-access ===
] ]


The King's Highways are currently numbered 2 to 148. The Ministry of Transportation never designated a Highway 1. The ]s are currently numbered 2 to 148. The Ministry of Transportation never designated a Highway 1; before 1998, the lowest numbered highway was Highway 2.


] are a special class. The 400-series highways include Highways 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 409, 410, 416, 417, 420, 427, and the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), which is actually designated as Highway 451. Some highway numbers are suffixed with a letter. The letter will be one of 'A' ("Alternate route"), 'B' ("Business route"), or 'S' ("Scenic route"). ] are a special class. The 400-series highways include Highways 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 409, 410, 416, 417, 420, 427, and the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), which is actually designated as Highway 451. Some highway numbers are suffixed with a letter. The letter will be one of 'A' ("Alternate route"), 'B' ("Business route"), or 'S' ("Scenic route").
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Highway markers take on one of three designs depending on its use. Standard road shields placed on the highway itself consist of a ] design topped with a ]. In the current design, the highway number and the word "ONTARIO" appear on the shield. Junction signs (used at intersections and on the signs of ]) show a large white ] with the route number in it. Trailblazer signs (those indicating a route "to" a highway) will look like one of the first two but will be green instead of white. Highway markers take on one of three designs depending on its use. Standard road shields placed on the highway itself consist of a ] design topped with a ]. In the current design, the highway number and the word "ONTARIO" appear on the shield. Junction signs (used at intersections and on the signs of ]) show a large white ] with the route number in it. Trailblazer signs (those indicating a route "to" a highway) will look like one of the first two but will be green instead of white.


The speed limit on King's Highways is generally 80 km/h (50 mph), except for the ] routes and certain other highways in ], which are 90 km/h (55 mph), and 400-series highways and most other freeways, which are generally 100 km/h (65 mph). The speed limit on controlled-access highways is generally 80 km/h (50 mph), except for the ] routes and certain other highways in ], which are 90 km/h (55 mph), and 400-series highways and most other freeways, which are generally 100 km/h (65 mph).


=== Secondary === === Secondary ===
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Also, in ] and in the city of ] there are systems of regional, municipal or ] that are also numbered. These roads are maintained by the local government (Township, City, or County/District/Region), not by the province. Also, in ] and in the city of ] there are systems of regional, municipal or ] that are also numbered. These roads are maintained by the local government (Township, City, or County/District/Region), not by the province.


== Controlled-access highways ==
==King's Highways==


*] &ndash; ] at ] and Hastings County Highway 2 to ] at ] and Hastings County Highway 2 *] &ndash; ] at ] and Hastings County Highway 2 to ] at ] and Hastings County Highway 2

Revision as of 03:02, 19 July 2006

This is a list of provincial highways in Ontario, Canada. Many of these highways were once operated and maintained by the provincial government, but were later devolved to the counties and municipalities through which they passed in the 1990s.

Highway classes

Ontario has three distinct classes of highways (French voie publique): controlled-access highways, secondary highways, and tertiary roads. All three classes are legally included in the scope of King's Highways (French route principale), with individual highways referred to as "that part of the King's Highway known as No. xx," or simply "the King's Highway known as No. xx."

However, the term King's Highways has been deprecated over the past quarter century, and the old signs were replaced circa 1993. Currently, these highways are designated "provincial highways" or "provincially maintained highways" by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Both terms are sometimes used within the same regulation as the older term is phased out.

Controlled-access

A provincial highway shield

The controlled-access highways are currently numbered 2 to 148. The Ministry of Transportation never designated a Highway 1; before 1998, the lowest numbered highway was Highway 2.

400-Series Highways are a special class. The 400-series highways include Highways 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 409, 410, 416, 417, 420, 427, and the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), which is actually designated as Highway 451. Some highway numbers are suffixed with a letter. The letter will be one of 'A' ("Alternate route"), 'B' ("Business route"), or 'S' ("Scenic route").

Highway markers take on one of three designs depending on its use. Standard road shields placed on the highway itself consist of a shield design topped with a crown. In the current design, the highway number and the word "ONTARIO" appear on the shield. Junction signs (used at intersections and on the signs of 400-Series Highways) show a large white crown with the route number in it. Trailblazer signs (those indicating a route "to" a highway) will look like one of the first two but will be green instead of white.

The speed limit on controlled-access highways is generally 80 km/h (50 mph), except for the Trans-Canada Highway routes and certain other highways in northern Ontario, which are 90 km/h (55 mph), and 400-series highways and most other freeways, which are generally 100 km/h (65 mph).

Secondary

Secondary highways exist in northern Ontario (and used to exist in Central and Eastern Ontario) to connect towns and remote areas. These highways are currently numbered from 502 to 673. Secondary highway markers are trapezoid-shaped. On the face of the marker appear, in order from top to bottom, the Ontario coat of arms, the number of the highway, and the word "ONTARIO".

A few secondary highways remain gravel-surfaced, although most have been paved. The speed limit on nearly all of these routes is 80 km/h (50 mph), although Highway 655 is posted at 90 km/h (55 mph).

Tertiary

Tertiary roads connect those regions in northern Ontario not served by secondary highways. Legally, "road" (French route) has the same meaning as highway. These roads are currently numbered 801 to 811, and are marked by a simple rectangular marker with rounded corners bearing the number of the highway and the word "ONTARIO".

Most of these roads are gravel-surfaced and low-standard. The speed limit on these routes is 80 km/h (50 mph), although design standards generally override such.

Others

In addition to these three classes of highways, the Ministry of Transportation maintains other roads (Resource roads, Industrial roads) that are of strategic importance to the Ministry, but which are not important enough to be given any special marking. These roads are designated with 7000-series numbers, though they are not publicly marked as such.

Some 7000-series highways are listed below:

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items.

Also, in Southern Ontario and in the city of Greater Sudbury there are systems of regional, municipal or county roads that are also numbered. These roads are maintained by the local government (Township, City, or County/District/Region), not by the province.

Controlled-access highways

There are no highways having the numbers 1 or 13.

400-Series highways

Secondary highways

Tertiary roads

Devolved highways

In 1997 and 1998, many sections of the provincial highway network were downloaded to local municipalities (such as cities, counties or regional municipalities) by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation as a cost-saving measure. While highways were occasionally transferred to local governments in the past, the 1997-1998 downloads represented the most significant changes to Ontario's highway network. Many highways were completely devolved, while of others only short sections remain under provincial jurisdiction (Highway 2, once stretching across Southern Ontario, now is only a few kilometres long). Below is a partial list of partially or wholly devolved highways since 1997.

Additional Highways and Bypass routes devolved: 2B, 2S, 3B, 4A, 5A, 7B, 8A, 11B, 12B, 13, 15A, 16, 17A, 17B, 24A, 35B, 40B, 48B.

See also

References

  1. ^ Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act; R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER P.50
  2. Highway Traffic Act; R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER H.8
  3. Municipal Act, 2001; SO 2001, c. 25
  4. Provincially Maintained Highways
  5. Conservation Authorities Act; R.R.O. 1990, REGULATION 164, Amended to O. Reg. 172/06

External links

Provincial and territorial highways in Canada
Category: