Ontario Highway 61

Ontario Highway 61

Highway 61 is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. It connects the Pigeon River Bridge, where it crosses into the United States, with a junction at Highway 11, Highway 17 and the Harbour Expressway in Thunder Bay. The highway forms part of the Lake Superior Circle Tour.

About Ontario Highway 61 in brief

Summary Ontario Highway 61Highway 61 is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. It connects the Pigeon River Bridge, where it crosses into the United States, with a junction at Highway 11, Highway 17 and the Harbour Expressway in Thunder Bay. The highway forms part of the Lake Superior Circle Tour. Highway 61 was added to the highway system on October 6, 1937, following the amalgamation of the Department of Northern Development and Department of Highways. Prior to that it was known as the Scott Highway. The road that would become Highway 61 was first constructed in 1916. It was originally known as The Outlaw, as it was constructed without formal approval of the Canadian or American governments.

The bridge was rebuilt as a steel truss structure in 1934 following several accidents. By 1962, construction was underway to bypass the bridge and the highway became Highway 61 on April 1, 1962. It is also known as Thunder Bay Expressway and Trans-Canada Highway. It also forms a small portion of the tourist route of highways following the shoreline of Lake Superior. To the south, the tour continues along Minnesota State Highway  61; to the north it continues along Highway 17 towards Sault Saint Marie. It continues north for 3 km and ends at the harbour Expressway. The northernmost section of the highway is a four-lane, undivided expressway.