Ontario Highway 17A

Highway 17A
Kenora By-Pass
Route information
Auxiliary route of Highway 17
Maintained by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Length:	33.6 km[1] (20.9 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
Ontario provincial highways 400-series • Former ← Highway 17 Highway 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 the early 1990s.^{[citation needed]}

Major intersections

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

Location	km[1]	Destinations	Notes
Kenora	0.0	Highway 17 west – Winnipeg
	1.2	Highway 641 – Laclu	CPR overpass
	7.1	Highway 596 (Darlington Drive) – Minaki
	12.6		Winnipeg River Bridge
	14.9	Highway 658 (Redditt Road) – Redditt
	21.1	East Melick Road	Formerly Highway 659
	25.5	Highway 671 (Jones Road) – Jones
	33.5	Highway 17 east – Dryden, Thunder Bay
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (2007). "Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) counts". Government of Ontario. http://www.raqsb.mto.gov.on.ca/techpubs/TrafficVolumes.nsf/tvweb?OpenForm&Seq=5. Retrieved August 29, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Peter Heiler Ltd (2010). Ontario Back Road Atlas (Map). p. 106, section G3. ISBN 978-1-55198-226-7. 
3. ^ "Farming on the Canadian Shield". Lake of the Woods Museum. http://www.kenora.ca/museum/history/industry/industry.aspx?id=5571. Retrieved September 9, 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} 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. 

External links

• Highway 17A pictures and information