Highway classes Highways in Ontario

1 highway classes

1.1 king s highways

1.1.1 400-series highways


1.2 secondary
1.3 tertiary
1.4 trans-canada
1.5 others

highway classes

ontario has several distinct classes of highways: king s highways, (which includes controlled-access highways) , secondary highways, individual highways referred part of king s highway known no. xx, or king s highway known no. xx. purposes of legal jurisdiction, however, highway traffic act deems tertiary roads considered king s highways .

the term king s highway first adopted in place of provincial highway in 1930, , signs similar current design words king s highway above route number replaced previous smaller triangular signs. however, name has been deprecated since 1990s, , old signs replaced circa 1993. these highways again identified provincial highways or provincially maintained highways ontario ministry of transportation. highway traffic act, amended 2006, still refers them king s highway . both terms used within same regulation older term phased out.

king s highways

a king s highway shield



a king s highway junction shield

the king s highways numbered 2 427. ministry of transportation never designated highway 1.

some highway numbers suffixed letter ( alternate route ), b ( business route ), or s ( scenic route ). in past, there have been routes letters c , d.

highway markers take on 1 of 4 designs depending on use. standard road highway markers placed on highway consist of route number in black on white shield design topped st edward s crown. in current design, highway number , word ontario appear on shield. signs prior 1993 had words king s highway below crown, current versions have words removed. older signs made of ceramic , current of metal. junction signs (used @ intersections, ramp signs , on overhead signs non 400-series highways) use white silhouette of st edward s crown route number in it. trailblazer signs (those indicating route highway) 1 of first 2 green (with white lettering) instead of white.

white-on-green trans-canada highway markers used on king s (and 400-series) highways designated national route, , posted below standard provincial marker.

the speed limit on king s highways 80 km/h (50 mph) in rural areas , 50 km/h (31 mph) in urban areas. on rural portions of trans-canada highway, on riro , at-grade expressways, , on other highways in northern ontario, speed limit 90 km/h (56 mph).

400-series highways

400-series highways special class of provincial highways, designed exclusively controlled-access freeways entire length of highway. @ present, of them located in southern ontario, form network similar interstate highway system in us. 400-series highways include highways 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 409, 410, 412, 416, 417, 420, 427, , queen elizabeth way (qew). originally, 400-series route numbers assigned sequentially, more new routes have been numbered based on existing highway new route bypassed or upgraded. (highway 427 upgrade of highway 27, example.)

although province maintains freeways match 400-series standards, such conestoga parkway, not designated 400-series number, though of freeways exceed existing 400-series highways in size , traffic volume , in cases connected 400-series network. nonetheless, ontario freeways not receive 400-series number unless designed complete controlled-access freeways whole length. while at-grade intersections existed on highway 406 many years, construction took place 2008 2015 close off intersections or replace them overpasses , interchanges, bringing route full freeway standards. non 400-series routes typically have open-access portions besides freeway section, while freeway segment typically small section not @ route s termini. 400-series standards allow 400-series highways begin or end @ roundabouts or traffic lights, such highway 406 , highway 420, respectively.

the 400-series highways designed highest specifications of provincial highways, typical design speeds of 100–130 km/h. 400-series highways have posted speeds of 100 km/h, although in few instances, speeds lower, account dangerous or obsolete-design areas. example, highway 403 near hamilton signed @ 90 km/h because of series of sharp curves, , highway 402 signed @ 70 km/h on final approach border crossing @ blue water bridge in sarnia because of heavy, backed-up or stopped truck traffic.

secondary

a secondary highway shield

secondary highways exist in northern ontario (and used exist in central , eastern ontario) connect towns , remote areas, connecting small large towns major kings highways. these highways numbered 502 673. secondary highway markers trapezoid-shaped. on face of marker appear, top bottom: ontario coat of arms, word ontario , , number of highway.

a few secondary highways remain gravel-surfaced, although have been paved. speed limit on of these routes 80 km/h (50 mph), although highway 655 posted @ 90 km/h (56 mph). majority of length in secondary highway system consists of single continuous yellow centerline, though segments king s highway standards either because serve quick connector them (like highway 655), or because former alignments of king s highways, or because approach intersection king s highway.

the secondary highway system introduced in 1955 service regions in northern , central ontario, parts of system decommissioned provincial highway network in 1997 , 1998. in northern ontario, there no county-level system of government take on road maintenance, secondary highways still in operation , serve function analogous of county road, while in southern ontario have been downloaded counties , rolled county road systems there.

tertiary

a tertiary highway shield

tertiary roads connect regions in northern ontario not served secondary highways. legally, road has same meaning highway. these roads numbered 801 811, , marked simple rectangular marker rounded corners bearing number of highway , word ontario .

most of these roads gravel-surfaced , low-standard. speed limit on these routes 80 km/h (50 mph), although design standards override such.

the ministry of transportation introduced tertiary road system in 1962. these roads resource access roads built remote areas in northern ontario. these roads constructed in small numbers, , 1 exception (highway 802), not end @ settlement. of these tertiary roads later upgraded , rebuilt secondary highway standards. @ present, there 6 tertiary roads in ontario. gravel roads, except hwy 802 , hwy 805, both have paved sections.

trans-canada

a trans-canada highway shield

the trans-canada highway follows various provincial highways. signed distinctive white-on-green tch shield used in rest of canada, placed below provincial shield. tch lacks national numeric designation in province, signs numberless, marked designated route names; examples being georgian bay route , northern ontario route,

others

in addition these 3 classes of highways, ministry of transportation maintains other roads, such resource roads or industrial roads, of strategic importance ministry, not important enough given special marking. these roads designated 7000-series numbers internal inventory purposes, though not publicly marked such. these frequently, not always, former highway segments lost original highway designation remain important connecting routes communities or other highways.

as further note, roads designated 7000-series highways discontinuous, connected non-assumed roads (roads not under provincial control, such county roads, or town streets), linking both parts share same number.

also, in southern ontario , in city of greater sudbury there systems of regional, municipal or county roads numbered. these roads maintained local government (township, city, or county/region), not province.

there several formerly designated ontario tourist routes located throughout entire province, these have since become harder find, many signs have been taken down. there historic colonization roads throughout eastern , central ontario, shown on maps , on street signs. see list of ontario historic colonization roads more information.