Ontario Highway 61

King's Highway 61, commonly referred to as Highway 61 and historically known as the Scott Highway, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. It connects the Pigeon River Bridge, where it crosses into the United States and becomes Minnesota State Highway 61, with a junction at Highway 11, Highway 17 and the Harbour Expressway in Thunder Bay. The highway forms a part of the Lake Superior Circle Tour.

Highway 61 was added to the highway system on April 1, 1937 with the amalgamation of the Department of Northern Development into the Department of Highways. Prior to that it was known as the Scott Highway. The bridge over the Pigeon River was originally known as The Outlaw, as it was constructed without formal approval of the Canadian or American governments.

Route description

Highway 61 begins at the international border between Ontario and Minnesota, the Pigeon River; it continues as State Highway 61 to Duluth on the American side. It passes customs and curves to the north. Passing its former route at Highway 593, the highway curves east to avoid mountains.^[4] It zig-zags around a range of mountains, eventually turning northward and passing to the west of Cloud Bay. The highway continues north for 20 kilometres (10 mi) through Neebing, pressed between mountain ranges on either side. It rises at Moose Hill, meets Highway 608 and enters one of the few agricultural areas in northwestern Ontario. Shortly thereafter, Highway 61 curves to the east, passing the southern terminus of Highway 130 along the way.^[4] It then enters the outskirts of Thunder Bay.

The highway passes Chippewa Road, its former route through Thunder Bay, and returns to its northward orientation. It officially enters the city as it crosses the Kaministiquia River. Continuing north, the highway swerves east at Thunder Bay International Airport and crosses Arthur Street. North of Arthur Street, the highway is also known as the Thunder Bay Expressway. It continues north for 3 km (1.9 mi) and ends at the Harbour Expressway and Trans-Canada Highway.

The northernmost section in Thunder Bay is a four-lane, undivided expressway. The remainder of Highway 61 is a conventional two-lane highway.^[5] Traffic volumes along the southern portion of the highway are generally low, with an Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) of 1,000 vehicles. This increases progressing north; within Thunder Bay the AADT peaks at 17,200 vehicles.^[3]

Highway 61 also forms a small portion of the Lake Superior Circle Tour, a tourist route of highways following the shoreline of Lake Superior. To the south, the tour continues along Minnesota State Highway 61; to the north it continues along Highway 17 towards Sault Saint Marie.^[6]

History

The road that would become Highway 61 was first constructed in 1916. The Pigeon River Timber Company had cleared lands surrounding the towns of Port Arthur and Fort William, but no road existed to connect to locations outside. A narrow bush trail reached as far as the Pigeon River, and so was chosen as the route for the new road. The Department of Mines and Resources agreed to fund the project, and citizens proceeded to lay a new road as far as the river. This road was initially known as the "Scott Highway" after lumberman William Scott.^[7] On the opposite shore, the Cook County and Minnesota State authorities constructed a new road north from Grand Marais. The roads were completed, but no bridge existed to connect them.^[8]

In response, the Rotary Clubs of Port Arthur and Duluth met to discuss a solution. As an international crossing, any bridge over the river would require federal approval. Both sides agreed that the approval process would be too slow, and decided to construct the bridge regardless. "The Outlaw" bridge was opened on August 18, 1917, finally permitting travel between Ontario and Minnesota.^[1] The bridge and the Canadian road approaching it fell under the jurisdiction of the Department of Highways (now the Ministry of Transportation) on April 1, 1937, and the Scott Highway became Highway 61.^[2] The Outlaw was rebuilt as a steel truss structure in 1930 following several accidents.

By 1962, construction was underway to bypass the inland route of the highway as well as the bridge.^[9] This bypass opened on November 1, 1963,^[10] the American approach rebuilt along the shore of Lake Superior, and a new bridge constructed over the river 10 km (6.2 mi) to the east.^[1] Highway 61 was realigned as a result; the former route was redesignated as Ontario Highway 593 on September 1, 1964.^[10]

In 1963, Charles MacNaughton, minister of the Department of Highways, announced plans for the Lakehead Expressway to be built on the western edge of the twin cities of Port Arthur and Fort Williams (which amalgamated in 1970 to form Thunder Bay).^[11] Construction began in the late 1960s and progressed rapidly.^[12][13] Following its completion, Highway 61 was rerouted along it as far north as Arthur Street. The former route followed Chippewa Road, turned north on James Street and then east on Frederica Street. From there, it turned north along Ford Street and followed it and Kingsway to Highway 11 and Highway 17 at Arthur Street. This route was renumbered as Highway 61B.^[6]

Beginning in 1991, Highway 61 was completely reconstructed south of Thunder Bay to the border in preparation for the 1995 World Nordic Ski Championships. This involved replacing eight bridges, improving sightlines, the addition of five passing lanes and paved shoulders throughout the length of the highway.^[14] Recent years have seen Highway 61 improved considerably within Thunder Bay.^[15] The highway was extended 3 km (1.9 mi) to the north on August 17, 2007 when the Shabaqua Highway opened, redirecting Highway 11 and Highway 17 off Arthur Street.^[16]

Major intersections

The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 61. In addition, it includes some minor junctions that are noted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.^[3] The entirety of Highway 61 is located within Thunder Bay District.^[4]

See also

• Highway 61, a 1991 film by Canadian director Bruce McDonald.

References

Sources

Bibliography

• Shragge, John; Bagnato, Sharon (1984). From Footpaths to Freeways. Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Historical Committee. ISBN 0-7743-9388-2.