Highway 69 (Ontario)

Infobox road
province=ON
type=Hwy
route=69
alternate_name=Trans-Canada Highway


length_km=
length_ref=Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, [http://www.raqsa.mto.gov.on.ca/techpubs/TrafficVolumes.nsf/tvweb 2004 Annual Average Daily Traffic] ]
length_round=1
established=1936Fact|date=September 2007
direction_a=South
terminus_a=jct|state=ON|Hwy|400 near MacTier (exit 189)
junction=
direction_b=North
terminus_b=jct|state=ON|Hwy|17 in Sudbury
previous_type=Hwy
previous_route=67
next_type=Hwy
next_route=71

Highway 69 is a major north-south highway in Central and Northern Ontario, linking Sudbury with Highway 400 in Parry Sound.

The current highway begins at the Highway 400 interchange south of MacTier (exit 189), and ends at an interchange with Highway 17 in Sudbury. After the interchange, the roadway continues northward into the urban core of Sudbury as Regent Street/Municipal Road 46.

The highway currently has a total length of 199 km (124 miles). The length of the highway has gradually been decreasing over recent years with northward extensions of Highway 400, which eventually could completely take over Highway 69, likely around 2017.

The segment between Exit 213 on Highway 400 and the end of the four-lane freeway in Parry Sound is currently concurrent with 400. Until the summer of 2008 when the freeway in that area was completed, the southernmost segment between the Musquash River and its current southern terminus was also concurrent with Highway 400.

The highway is part of the Trans-Canada Highway for most of its length, except for the section between Exits 189 and 213 bypassed by Highway 400 remains signed as 69.

Between Parry Sound and Sudbury, there are no large communities, although there are numerous small communities including (from south to north) Nobel, Shawanaga, Pointe au Baril, Byng Inlet, Britt, Bigwood, Delamere and Estaire. The posted speed limit is 90 km/h (55 mph) for most of its length.

History

This highway has one of the most confusing and turbulent histories of any provincially-maintained highway. This road has gone from being a simple two-lane gravel country lane to becoming a main part of the Trans-Canada Highway, and the corridor soon will become a 4-lane freeway.

The original routing of Highway 69 is far different from its current alignment, travelling along the eastern shore of Lake Couchiching, from Highway 12 near Orillia, through Rama, and terminating in Bala. Shortly after being commissioned as a provincial highway, the road's designation was extended to MacTier. The road was gradually extended south from Highway 17 in Sudbury at the same time, as it was anticipated that these two roads would link up in the future. By the time that World War II had occurred, the province halted all major road construction projects that were not deemed absolutely necessary. The road between Parry Sound and Nobel was paved during World War II because of the large munitions factory in Nobel, and this was deemed to be a critical requirement for the war effort, to ease the movement of ammunition from Nobel to the armed forces.

Shortly after World War II, construction resumed on Highway 69, with paving and extending the road, closing a gap that existed between Britt and Burwash by 1951. When the highway was completed to the town of French River in 1952, motorists of the province could then take a much more direct route between Sudbury and Severn River, by detouring along Highway 535 and Highway 64, through the small towns of Hagar and Noëlville.

Before the road was completed, drivers wanting to travel from Southern Ontario to Sudbury or Sault Ste. Marie had to take a rather out-of-the-way routing along Highway 11 to North Bay, then travel west along Highway 17 into Sudbury or Sault Ste. Marie. The road's largest gap, between Alban and Burwash, was gradually eliminated as the road was extended in construction lasting from 1952 to 1955, when the final gap between Britt and French River was closed. The road was finally connected together and formed a new link between Sudbury and Southern Ontario.

In 1976, the road was re-aligned, with the former alignment becoming now-deleted Highway 169, and the 69 designation completely absorbing the routing of former Highway 103 (which is now today's Highway 400). At its "modern" peak, the road stretched from the intersection of Highway 12 and Highway 400 (continuing as Highway 400 south of the intersection), all the way to Sudbury. Gradually, the road has shrunk in recent years, as extensions of Highway 400 have taken place along Highway 69's routing, absorbing the road's designation.

Four-laning

The commitment to expand Highway 69 to a full freeway was originally made in 1991 by the New Democrat government of Bob Rae. Although construction did commence at the highway's southern end, the project was curtailed by the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris shortly after the 1995 provincial election, with construction ending at the highway's current terminus in Parry Sound.

The city of Sudbury continued to lobby for the highway's expansion, calling attention especially to an ongoing series of fatal car accidents at the intersection of Highway 637, where a sharp S-curve in Highway 69's route renders the approaching intersection effectively invisible to northbound traffic. Assisted by Rick Bartolucci, the Liberal MPP for Sudbury, the Crash 69 committee of Sudbury residents campaigned throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s to have the project reinstated. The revived construction to Sudbury was announced by Harris' successor (and former MPP for Parry Sound—Muskoka), Ernie Eves in 2002.

In 2004, construction began on the segment from Sudbury southwards to Estaire, and route planning studies were completed for the Estaire to Parry Sound branch. Although the timetable may be subject to change, the four-laned route is scheduled to be completed in its entirety by 2017. Portions of the route will be opened to traffic as construction is completed — the segment immediately south of Sudbury is scheduled to open in 2009, and the next segment north of Parry Sound is currently scheduled to open in 2010. [ [http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/highway69/status.htm Status of Construction Activity ] ]

Work has also commenced on a realignment of the controversial S-curve at Highway 637, which will see a new two-lane route constructed along the future freeway alignment beginning in 2008, with a right-of-way left in place for the second set of lanes to be completed as the four-lane construction reaches the area. [ [http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndm/pub/newrel/documents/2005_hwy69_actionplan_e.pdf Highway 69 Action Plan] , MTO.]

Once the four-lane expansion project is complete, the highway will be fully renumbered as Highway 400.

Concurrently with the final stages of construction on Highway 69, the Highway 17 freeway in Sudbury will be extended eastward to the Coniston neighbourhood along the city's Southwest and Southeast Bypasses. In preparation for this latter project, an interchange is currently under construction at the intersection of Highway 17 and Sudbury's Long Lake Road.

tatus of construction activity

* Currently under construction: :: Sudbury, Gladu Road to Estaire (9 km), scheduled to open in 2009:: Parry Sound, existing terminus to Nobel (7 km), scheduled to open in 2010
* Engineering and property acquisition phase::: Highway 537 to Pickerel River (58 km):: Nobel bypass (10 km)
* Route planning and environmental assessment::: Pickerel River to Nobel bypass (68 km)

Other notes

At one time, Highway 69 continued through Sudbury and into the suburban towns of Valley East and Capreol. Although this route is no longer part of the provincial highway, and is officially designated as a series of Sudbury Municipal Roads, it continues to be referred to by locals as "Highway 69 North".

References

External links

* [http://www.thekingshighway.ca/Highway69.htm Highway 69]
* [http://www.onthighways.com/Highway_69.htm Highway 69 at OntHighways.com]
* [http://www.highway69.ca/ Highway 69 Expansion - engineering and design projects]