Ontario Highway 137 History - The King's Highways of Ontario

King's Highway 137 is a major arterial highway which provides access between Highway 401 and the Thousand Islands Bridge system near Ivy Lea. Highway 137 provides a direct connection to Interstate 81 in New York State via the Thousand Islands Bridge system. The Thousand Islands Bridge system and its approach roads were first opened to traffic on August 18, 1938. The Thousand Islands Bridge Road did not have a route number on the Ontario side of the boundary until 1963, when it was assigned the Highway 137 route number. During the 1970s, the use of this designation was discontinued on highway maps and road signs, despite the fact that the road was still officially numbered as Highway 137. The highway was simply signed "Bridge to U.S.A." or "TO 401", depending on the direction of travel. The Highway 137 designation reappeared on the 1997 edition of the Official Ontario Road Map, but it was not until 2006 that the route number was restored onto highway signs. That year, a number of Highway 137 signs appeared along the highway leading to the Thousand Islands Bridge system and on overhead signs along Highway 401.

Highway 137 is a two-lane highway for most of its length, although it widens to a four-lane divided freeway between the north end of the Thousand Islands Bridge system and the Highway 401 Interchange. Although it is one of the shortest highways in Ontario, Highway 137 passes through a particularly scenic region. The views of the St. Lawrence River from the Thousand Islands Bridge system are particularly stunning. The small community of Hill Island is the only settlement along the highway. The speed limit on Highway 137 is 50 km/h (30 mph) between the New York State Boundary and the Thousand Islands Parkway Overpass, where the speed limit increases to 80 km/h (50 mph). For standard passenger vehicles and motorcycles, the current toll rate on the Thousand Islands Bridge as of February 1, 2016 is $2.75 U.S. Funds or $3.50 Canadian Funds. Please visit the Highway 137 Mileage Chart page for a list of mileage reference points along Highway 137.