Ontario Highway 137

Highway 137 shield

Highway 137
Route information
Maintained by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Length: 4.3 km[1] (2.7 mi)
Existed: 1965[2] – present
Major junctions
South end: I-81 at Wellesley Island, New York
North end: Highway 401 near Lansdowne
Highway system
← Highway 132Highway 138 →

King's Highway 137, commonly referred to as Highway 137, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario that serves to connect the northern end of Interstate 81 in New York with Highway 401, via the Canadian span of the Thousand Islands Bridge. While this road connected to the international bridge when it opened in August 1938, it was not designated as a King's Highway until 1965.[2]

Route description

Highway 401 eastbound at Highway 137 in 2004

The mainland section is a four-lane freeway with an interchange at the Thousand Islands Parkway in addition to its terminus at Highway 401. The section on Hill Island is a two-lane highway with limited development and two at-grade intersections. Connecting the two segments is the first bridge between the Ontario mainland and Hill Island, which is a toll bridge in the southbound direction (northbound tolls are paid on the New York mainland). The highway ends at the U.S. border, where it continues as I-81.[3]

History

The Thousand Islands Bridge opened August 18, 1938; Highway 137 was designated 27 years later

The Thousand Islands Bridge system was opened ceremoniously on August 18, 1938 by Prime Minister William Mackenzie King and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Also in attendance was His Majesty's (King George VI) representative, the Ontario Lieutenant Governor Albert Matthews.[4] The new border crossing connected with the Scenic Highway, known today as the Thousand Islands Parkway, but it was not numbered. For 27 years, Highway 137 was known simply as the Ivy Lea Bridge Approach. Later, the number appeared on certain maps but not any actual highway signage. In recent years, signs have been installed along Highway 401, which include the Highway 137 designation and appropriate shields.

Exit list

The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 137, as noted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.[1] The entire route is located in Leeds and Grenville United Counties.[3] 

Locationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
Thousand Islands Bridge over the St. Lawrence River
 Highway 137 continues in New York as Interstate 81 
Hill Island0.00.0
Canada–United States border
Leeds and the Thousand Islands2.71.7Thousand Islands ParkwayBeginning of divided freeway
4.32.7 Highway 401 – Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, MontrealExit 661 on Highway 401
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (2004). "Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) counts". Government of Ontario. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Cameron Bevers. "The King's Highway 137". Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  3. 1 2 Ontario Back Road Atlas (Map). Cartography by MapArt. Peter Heiler. 2010. p. 52. § R68–U70. ISBN 978-1-55198-226-7.
  4. ↑ ""Let's Do This Together," President Suggests at Bridge Opening". The Toronto Star. August 19, 1938. p. 1.

External links

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