List of numbered roads in Ottawa

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Many roads in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada are regional roads like most counties and regional municipalities in Southern and Eastern Ontario. The regional road system was created by the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton (RMOC) and managed by the RMOC until 2001. In 2001 when all cities, towns, and regions within the former RMOC amalgamated to form the new city of Ottawa, responsibility of the regional road system was transferred to the new city of Ottawa.

In general, even numbered routes run east-west and odd numbered routes run north-south. Also, the lowest numbered routes are generally found in the western regions for even (east-west) numbered routes, and in the eastern regions for odd (north-south) numbered routes. This pattern, however, has many exceptions. As more roads were added to the numbered regional road system the availability of numbers decreased and, consequently, the numbering pattern had to be broken.

In smaller communities and rural areas the regional roads are, for the most part, adequately signed with trapezoidal shaped signs with rounded edges, which are often referred to as “flowerpots” due to the shape of the sign. Older signs installed prior 2001 have the legend “Ottawa-Carleton” at the top with the route number underneath. Newer signs installed after 2001 use the legend “Ottawa” or simply “O” written in the city of Ottawa’s typeface. Most regional road signs are not marked with directional tabs indicating the direction of the road (i.e. North, South, East, West).

An Ottawa numbered route sign

Most municipal roads in the urban areas of Ottawa are not signed with route numbers or are very poorly signed despite having official route numbers and being listed on many maps with these numbers. Instead, most urban sections of regional roads are referred to by their names. The one major exception is Route 174, which was originally “ Regional Road 174” or simply “The 174”.

During the mass downloading of Ontario’s provincial highways onto regional authorities in 1997 and 1998 the former Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton was given responsibility over former Highways 16, 31, 44, and the section of Highway 17 east of the Highway 417. These former highways became known as regional roads (subsequently city routes) 73, 31, 49, and 174 respectively.

Ottawa city council adopted an updated route numbering policy on 28 September 2005 which no longer maintains route numbering inside the Greenbelt except for significant roads such as route 174.

[edit] List

[edit] See also

• List of roads in Ottawa
• List of Ontario county numbered roads

[edit] References

• Hewitt, R.G. (22 August 2005). Route Designation and Ottawa Road Route Marker Policy (Report to city's Transportation Committee). City of Ottawa. Retrieved on 2006-10-09.
• City Clerk and Mayor (28 September 2006). Ottawa City Council Minutes 40. City of Ottawa. Retrieved on 2006-10-09.