Ontario Highway 108

King's Highway 108, commonly referred to as Highway 108, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Located in the Algoma District in the remote north of the province, the highway extends for 41.6 kilometres from an intersection with Highway 17 west of Serpent River, through the urban core of Elliot Lake, to an intersection with Quirke Mine Road in the north end of the city. The highway continues as Secondary Highway 639 north of Quirke Mine Road.

A second unrelated Highway 108 existed for approximately a year in Toronto, following The Queensway between Highway 27 and the Queen Elizabeth Way. Like most highways in Toronto, it was transferred to Metropolitan Toronto in 1954. The current Highway 108 was designated in 1957 and has remained more-or-less unchanged since then.

Route description

Highway 108 is a remote highway in Algoma District that serves to connect the Trans-Canada Highway with the mines in the Elliot Lake and Quirke Lake area. Elliot Lake is the only community on the highway and is located approximately two-thirds of the distance between Highway 17 and Highway 546. The route begins at Highway 17, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) east of Spragge and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of Serpent River. It proceeds 24 kilometres (15 mi) north through a lake-ridden and remote wilderness before entering the built-up community of Elliot Lake.^[2]

Within Elliot Lake, the highway is locally maintained.^[1] It passes the Nuclear Mining Museum and the Mount Dufour ski resort before leaving the community and crossing the eastern end of the geographic Elliot Lake. From this point to the northern terminus of the highway, the route provides access to several mines that dot the surrounding areas.^[2] Immediately south of Quirke Mine Road, Highway 108 becomes Secondary Highway 639; the centre lane ends and the pavement quality is visibly reduced.^[3]

Highway 108 forms part of the Deer Trail tourist route, which continues north along Highway 639, then southwest along Highway 546 to Iron Bridge.

History

Highway 108 is Algoma is the second highway to carry the designation. In 1953, The Queensway in Toronto was assumed by the Department of Highways as the original Highway 108, between Highway 27 (now Highway 427) and the eastern end of the Queen Elizabeth Way. This designation was short lived, as all the highways within the city limits were transferred to Metropolitan Toronto in 1954.

The current iteration of Highway 108 was assumed by the Department of Highways in sections, beginning in late 1957, shortly after the discovery of Uranium deposits in the area. Prior to is assumption, the route it followed was designated as Highway 612. The first section, located in the urbanized area of Elliot Lake, was assumed on December 19, 1957. This was followed on December 30 with the majority of the route being assumed. Finally, on January 23, 1958, the northernmost 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) of Highway 612 was designated as part of Highway 108, eliminating that highway entirely.^[4]

On January 1, 1998, a 5.7 kilometres (3.5 mi) section of the highway was transferred to the Municipality of Elliot Lake.

Major intersections

The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 108. The entirety of the highway is located within Algoma District.

References