Ontario Highway 17A

Highway 17A shield

Highway 17A
Kenora By-Pass
Route information
Auxiliary route of Highway 17
Maintained by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Length: 33.5 km[1] (20.8 mi)
Existed: 1990 – present
Major junctions
Beltway around Kenora
West end:  Highway 17 west near Keewatin
   Highway 596 near Keewatin
Highway 658 near Jaffray–Melick
Highway 659
Highway 671
East end:  Highway 17 east near Kenora
Location
Counties: Kenora District
Major cities: Kenora, Kenora Airport
Highway system
← Highway 17Highway 19 →

King's Highway 17A, commonly referred to as Highway 17A or as the Kenora By-Pass, is an alternate route of Highway 17 around the city of Kenora, in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was built along a former Canadian Pacific Railway right-of-way, and has two westbound passing lanes in separate parts, and one eastbound passing lane.

Route description

Although it is not an official part of the Trans-Canada Highway, Highway 17A is designated as the through route when travelling into Kenora on the Trans-Canada. The road also provides access to Kenora Airport, but otherwise avoids the built up areas of the city.[2] The highway passes through a heavily forested area dominated by large granite rock outcroppings, geography typical of the Canadian Shield.[3] On an average day approximately 3,200–5,200 vehicles travel along the road, varying by season.[1]

History

Highway 17A was constructed beginning in 1981 after it became apparent that the city of Kenora was becoming congested with traffic, representing a severe bottleneck for cross-national traffic. The bypass opened in stages as it was constructed from west to east.[4] The first 8.4 kilometres (5.2 mi), from Highway 17 to Highway 596 opened in September 1983. Following this, contracts were tendered for construction of the Winnipeg River bridge.[5] The section between Highway 596 and Highway 659 opened several years later in the autumn of 1988.[4] The final section, linking Highway 659 with Highway 17, was opened in 1991.[6]

Major intersections

The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 17A, as noted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.[1] The entire route is located in Kenora District.[2] 

Locationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
Kenora0.00.0 Highway 17 west – Winnipeg
1.20.7Highway 641 – LacluCPR overpass
7.14.4 Highway 596 (Darlington Drive) – Minaki
12.67.8
Winnipeg River Bridge
14.99.3Highway 658 (Redditt Road) – Redditt
21.113.1East Melick RoadFormerly Highway 659
25.515.8Highway 671 (Jones Road) – Jones
33.520.8 Highway 17 east – Dryden, Thunder Bay
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (2007). "Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) counts". Government of Ontario. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mapart (2010). Ontario Back Road Atlas (Map). Peter Heiler Ltd. p. 106. § G3. ISBN 978-1-55198-226-7.
  3. ↑ "Farming on the Canadian Shield". Lake of the Woods Museum. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (May 1989). Northern Transportation Construction Projects 1989–90 (Report). Transportation Capital Branch, Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. p. 6. ISSN 0822-1480.
  5. ↑ Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (April 1988). Northern Transportation Construction Projects 1988–89 (Report). Transportation Capital Branch, Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. p. VII. ISSN 0822-1480.
  6. ↑ Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (May 1991). Northern Transportation Construction Projects 1991–92 (Report). Transportation Capital Branch, Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. p. 6. ISSN 0822-1480.

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