Ontario Highway 12

King's Highway 12, commonly referred to as Highway 12, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The highway connects the eastern end of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with Kawartha Lakes (via Highway 7), Orillia and Midland. It forms a part of the Trans-Canada Highway system from north of Sunderland to Coldwater. Highway 12 connects several small towns along its 146 km (91 mi) route, and bypasses a short distance from many others. The rural portions of the highway feature a posted speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph), often dropping to 50 km/h (31 mph) through built-up areas. The entire route is patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police.

Highway 12 was first established in early 1922 between Highway 2 in Whitby and Lindsay. The section running east from Sutherland became part of Highway 7 before route numbering came into effect in 1925. Highway 12 was then routed through Beaverton and around the eastern and northern shores of Lake Simcoe to Orillia and later to Midland. The section south of Brooklin was transferred to the Regional Municipality of Durham in mid-1997 and redesignated as Durham Regional Highway 12.

Route description

The highway begins at the hydro easement (the future location of Highway 407^[3]) just south of the community of Brooklin in the town of Whitby.^[2] It travels north and joins with Highway 7 on the southern edge of Brooklin. Highway 7 runs west to Markham, and is signed concurrently with Highway 12 for 39.1 km (24.3 mi) north of this point. North of Sunderland, Highway 7 separates and travels east to Lindsay; and Highway 12 becomes part of the Central Ontario Route of the Trans-Canada Highway at this location.^[4]

The highway then follows the eastern and northern shores of Lake Simcoe, bypassing Beaverton and curving to the northwest towards Orillia. It bypasses Orillia, and shares routing with Highway 11 northwards for about two kilometres between interchanges 131 and 133. At the latter interchange, Highway 12 then heads northwest towards Coldwater, where it routes onto Highway 400 between interchanges 141 and 147.^[4]

At Waubaushene, the Trans-Canada Highway follows Highway 400 north to Parry Sound and Sudbury, while Highway 12 continues west towards Victoria Harbour, Port McNicoll, and the Martyrs' Shrine.^[4] The highway ends at a junction with Highway 93 at the western town limits of Midland.^[2]

History

The oldest portion of Highway 12 was originally known as the Coldwater Portage and later the Coldwater Road, connecting the modern sites of Orillia and Coldwater by a 14 mi (23 km) trail. Upper Canada Governor John Colborne surveyed the portage in 1830 and ordered it to be widened for wagon use. As the area was settled and an increasing need for land connection with the south arose, a new road was proposed from Whitby to Sturgeon Bay. In February 1843, the residents formally petitioned the government to construct the route. The Sturgeon Bay Road, from Coldwater to Sturgeon Bay, was opened as a rough wagon road in 1844. The Atherley Narrows, separating Lake Simcoe from Lake Couchiching, were surveyed in the early 1840s and the first causeway and bridge constructed in the years that followed. The portion of the route between Whitby and Orillia, however, was still under construction during the second half of the decade.^[5]

Highway 12 was first introduced into the provincial highway system on January 22, 1922,^[1] The highway, initially known as the Whitby–Lindsay Road, was not numbered until the summer of 1925.^[6] The route followed the present–day Highway 12 from Whitby to Sunderland, then travelled east to Lindsay.^[7]

Highway assumptions carried out on June 22 and July 2, 1927, extended Highway 7 east from Brampton to Peterborough. In doing so, it became concurrent with Highway 12 between Whitby and Sunderland. The route of Highway 12 between Sunderland and Lindsay was renumbered as part of Highway 7 at this time. Highway 12 was later extended north to Orillia, via Beaverton. This was accomplished through two assumptions. on August 17, the majority of the route through Brock, Thorah and Mara Townships was assumed. Several more miles were assumed on December 28, 1927, extending Highway 12 as far as Orillia.^[8] On August 5, 1931, Highway 12 was extended from Orillia to Midland.^[9] The majority of the route paralleled an existing railway that was constructed over a native portage.

Highway 12 remained unaltered for several decades, until the mid 1960s, when the Beaverton Bypass was constructed. On November 4, 1966, the 10.3 km (6.4 mi) bypass opened,^[10] routing Highway 12 to the east. Portions of the former route of Highway 12 were renumbered as Highway 48B.^[11] The highway again remained unchanged for several decades, until a short portion of the southern end of the highway was decommissioned in the late 1990s. On April 1, 1997, the portions of Highway 12 south of Brooklin were transferred to the Regional Municipality of Durham, which subsequently redesignated the road as Durham Regional Highway 12.^[12][13]

Major intersections

The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 12, as noted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.^[4]

References

External links

• Canada NewsWire Press Release
• Highway 12 @ Asphaltplanet.ca