Ontario Highway 37 History - The King's Highways of Ontario

King's Highway 37 is a relatively short but important arterial highway in the County of Hastings which links Highway 401 in Belleville with Highway 7 at Actinolite. The history of Highway 37 dates back to the early 1930s, when the Department of Highways of Ontario (DHO) established a new King's Highway through Hastings County. A Preliminary Route Plan was prepared by the DHO dated October 23, 1931, which showed the proposed route of a new King's Highway between Belleville and Actinolite. The 29-mile (47 km) route was first assumed by the DHO as King's Highway 37 on January 6, 1932 (See Map). Although Highway 7 was still under construction between Madoc and Perth at that time, Highway 37 was designated in order to provide another provincial highway connection between Highway 2 and the newly-constructed route of Highway 7. Prior to 1932, the only other north-south provincial highway which linked to Highway 7 between Peterborough and Perth was Highway 14 in Marmora. As originally assumed in 1932, provincial jurisdiction over Highway 37 commenced at the north limits of the City of Belleville, which at the time were situated at the intersection of Highway 37 (Cannifton Road) and College Street. The entire highway from that point northerly to the Highway 7 Junction was under provincial jurisdiction, including through the incorporated limits of the Village of Tweed. The majority of Highway 37 was gravel-surfaced at first. At the time the DHO took over the highway in 1932, the only sections of the highway that were paved were between Belleville and Corbyville, along with another short section through Tweed. Paving was completed between Corbyville and Roslin in 1944 and between Tweed and Actinolite in 1945. The last gravel-surfaced section on Highway 37 between Roslin and Tweed was paved in 1951 and 1952.

Several changes were made to the route of Highway 37 over the years. During 1932, two diversions were constructed around the rural communities of Thrasher's Corners and Latta north of Belleville. Following completion of the new highway, jurisdiction over the old route of Highway 37 through Thrasher's Corners and Latta reverted back to the Township of Thurlow, effective September 22, 1933. A lengthy diversion was constructed through Actinolite in 1933, in order to connect Highway 37 to the relocated route of Highway 7 northeast of Actinolite. As originally assumed in 1932, Highway 7 & Highway 37 joined together at the north entrance to the community of Actinolite. The original route of Highway 37 followed Hungerford Street, Store Street, Kaladar Street and Retreat Road. The old highway's route was transferred to the Township of Elzevir, effective June 28, 1934. The old northern approach to Actinolite was closed to traffic decades ago and is no longer traversable. Another diversion was built north of Tweed in 1934, which bypassed about 1 mile of the original highway. Jurisdiction over the old route of Highway 37 via Bridgewater Road (today's Old Troy Road) reverted back to the Township of Hungerford, effective July 27, 1935. The route of Highway 37 within the Village of Tweed was changed slightly as a result of the construction of a new bridge across the Moira River during 1937. Originally, Highway 37 crossed the Moira River via Bridge Street. During 1937, Victoria Street was extended northerly across the Moira River in order to provide a more direct route for Highway 37 through Tweed. Jurisdiction over the old route of Highway 37 via Bridge Street and Moira Street was transferred from the province to the Village of Tweed, effective October 19, 1938. A small diversion was built in 1946 when a new bridge over the Moira River was constructed to replace the old structure which failed in 1945. Another small diversion was constructed around Chapman Corners in 1948-1949. Following the completion of the new diversion around Chapman Corners, jurisdiction over the old alignment of Highway 37 via Chapman Road and Bethel Road reverted to the Township of Hungerford, effective October 8, 1951. Diversions were also constructed around Roslin and Thomasburg during 1950 and 1951. The former route of Highway 37 through Roslin reverted to the Townships of Huntingdon and Thurlow, effective October 1, 1951. The old Highway 37 alignment through Thomasburg via Clare Street and Carter Street reverted to the Township of Hungerford, effective November 26, 1951.

Among the more significant diversions constructed along Highway 37 was a 2 3/4-mile bypass around two communities located just north of Belleville, known as Corbyville and Cannifton. A Highway Plan was prepared by the DHO dated February 1959, which showed a proposed diversion of Highway 37 around the eastern side of Corbyville and Cannifton. The new bypass was designated as a King's Highway by an Order-in-Council, effective May 14, 1959. The Corbyville Bypass was subsequently designated as a Controlled-Access Highway by an Order-in-Council, effective September 2, 1959. The new bypass was completed and opened to traffic around the communities of Corbyville and Cannifton in October 1960. The old route of Highway 37 through Corbyville and Cannifton was briefly renumbered as Highway 37B before being transferred from the province to the Township of Thurlow in 1961. Jurisdiction over the entire route of Highway 37 through the Village of Tweed was transferred from the province to the municipality, effective March 26, 1960. The 2.2 km route through Tweed was subsequently designated as a Municipal Connecting Link. In 1963, the Highway 7 & Highway 37 Junction was improved and rebuilt a short distance west of its original location near Actinolite. The bypassed portion of Highway 37 lying to the east of the relocated highway junction near Actinolite was transferred to the Township of Elzevir, effective May 5, 1966. Another small diversion was completed around the community of Plainfield in the late 1960s. The proposed Plainfield Diversion was designated as a King's Highway by an Order-in-Council, effective December 15, 1966, and was designated as a Controlled-Access Highway by an Order-in-Council, effective March 7, 1967. The Plainfield Diversion was completed and opened to traffic in June 1968. Jurisdiction over the former route of Highway 37 through Plainfield is believed to have transferred to the Township of Thurlow in 1971.

The route of Highway 37 through the City of Belleville has been modified several times since the highway was first established in 1932. The section of Highway 37 from College Street southerly into Downtown Belleville was considered to be a non-assumed section of the highway which remained under municipal jurisdiction. As originally established, Highway 37 followed Cannifton Road and Station Street into the city centre, where the highway came to an end at the Highway 14 Junction (Front Street) in Downtown Belleville (See Map). In 1950, Highway 37 was rerouted through the city centre so that it followed Pinnacle Street south from Station Street to connect to Highway 2 at Bridge Street instead of Highway 14 at Front Street (See Map). In 1955, Highway 14 was rerouted through the city centre via Coleman Street, located on the western side of the Moira River. In turn, Highway 37 was also extended southerly along Front Street in order to connect it with Highway 2 at the intersection of Front Street and Bridge Street (See Map). This non-assumed section of Highway 37 was designated as a Municipal Connecting Link in 1958. As the City of Belleville expanded northwards after World War II, the DHO transferred jurisdiction over a section of Highway 37 to the city. Jurisdiction over the section of Highway 37 between College Street and the Highway 401 Interchange was transferred from the province to the City of Belleville, effective January 15, 1959. This transferred section of Highway 37 between College Street and the Highway 401 Interchange was added to the Municipal Connecting Link designation in 1959. A new railway subway and realignment for the municipally-maintained route of Highway 37 through Belleville was constructed in the early 1980s. The relocated route of Highway 37 followed Cannifton Road Parkway, which was officially opened to traffic on August 5, 1981.

In the mid-1960s, a new one-way street system was introduced through Downtown Belleville, which forced northbound Highway 37 traffic to use Pinnacle Street while southbound Highway 37 traffic continued to use Front Street. As before, Highway 37 ended at the Highway 2 Junction (Bridge Street). In 1970, the new Dundas Street Bridge opened across the Moira River, which resulted in a much more direct route for Highway 2 through the city centre. Accordingly, Highway 37 was extended southerly via the Pinnacle Street and Front Street one-way street system to end at the relocated Highway 2 Junction at Dundas Street (See Map). This route for Highway 37 through the city centre remained in effect until 1982, when the Coleman Street route of Highway 14 was discontinued. Highway 14 (known as Highway 62 today) was rerouted along Dundas Street and Pinnacle Street instead of via Coleman Street. The route of Highway 37 was then truncated at the intersection of Station Street and Pinnacle Street at the north entrance to the city centre, which remains as Highway 37's terminus to this day. Although Highway 37 is still signed from Highway 401 southerly into the city centre, the route is no longer designated as a Municipal Connecting Link.

Highway 37 is a two-lane highway for its entire length between Belleville and Highway 7. The highway passes through a predominantly rural area along its 47 km route. The only major towns located along the highway are Belleville and Tweed. The highway provides a scenic alternate route for motorists travelling between Toronto and Ottawa, who do not wish to stay on Highway 401 beyond Belleville. The route via Highway 37 and Highway 7 is actually 40 km shorter than the route via Highway 401 and Highway 416, although there is no significant difference in travel times between these two routes. Services are somewhat scarce along Highway 37, but are available in Belleville, near Honeywell Corners and in Tweed. The speed limit on Highway 37 is 80 km/h (50 mph), unless posted otherwise. Please visit the Highway 37 Mileage Chart page for a list of mileage reference points along Highway 37.