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All photographs displayed on this page were taken by the
Ontario Ministry of Transportation, unless specifically noted otherwise. Historical photographs
are arranged in approximate chronological order. Click on any thumbnail to see a larger image!
Please note that all photographs displayed on this
website are protected by copyright. These photographs must not be reproduced, published,
electronically stored or copied, distributed, or posted onto other websites without
my written permission. If you want to use photos from this website, please
email me first for permission. Thank-you!
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Page 1: Historical Highway 17 Photographs (1920 to 1949)
 Above - Postcard view of the original steel truss bridge across the West Branch of the Winnipeg River on Hwy 17 between Kenora and Keewatin (ca. 1930). A new steel arch bridge was built at this location in 1949.  Above - View of Hwy 17 west of Arnprior (ca. 1930). Photo Courtesy of Archives of Ontario (Series RG-14-162-2-27, Box B984, Photo #16)  Above - Cavers Hill looking Southwest, with Lake Superior in the background (September, 1935). Photo Courtesy of Archives of Ontario (Series RG-14-162-2-27, Box B984) This photo shows the pass across Cavers Hill as it appeared in 1935. The rugged ridge forming Cavers Hill juts several kilometres out into Lake Superior, where the land drops precipitously into the lake. The ridge proved to be one of the greatest obstacles in building the North Shore Highway (now Hwy 17) in the 1930s. The route chosen for the highway ran up a steep sided ravine. The highway climbed to a summit 800 feet above the lake in less than 3 km. The steep grade proved troublesome for many vehicles, and the highway was completely realigned in the early 1960s. The old Cavers Hill alignment now sits overgrown in a forest a short distance away from the present Hwy 17.  Above - Postcard view of the Sudbury-Sault Ste. Marie Trunk Road (Hwy 17) near Espanola (ca. 1935).  Above - The new Keewatin Narrows Bridge on Hwy 17 west of Kenora, shown shortly after completion in 1938. This structure is one of the longest bridges on Hwy 17. It is also one of Northern Ontario's most beautiful bridges. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1999, but thankfully all of the ornamental features of the bridge, including the embossed concrete balusters and stylish steel and concrete deck arches were restored to their original 1930s appearance. Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation  Above - Official opening of the Nipigon River Bridge on Hwy 17 on September 24, 1937. Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation 
 Left - Pass across Cavers Hill in 1937, showing the new stone retaining wall at right. Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Right - Nipigon River Bridge on Hwy 17, shortly after opening in September, 1937. Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation 
 Left - Highway 17 looking west showing the Cameron Bay Bridge and Lake of the Woods (September 1, 1939). Photo Courtesy of Archives of Ontario (Series RG-14-162-2-27, Box B984, Photo #2552S) The original Cameron Bay Bridge was a timber through truss bridge, similar in design to the famous Sioux Narrows Bridge on Hwy 71. The structure was completed in 1938. Sadly, this magnificent bridge was demolished in 1970, and replaced by a modern concrete bridge. To see a photo of the east approach to the Cameron Bay Bridge as it appears today, please click here. Right - Curve on Hwy 17 at Dogtooth Lake, 20 miles east of Kenora (September 4, 1939). Photo Courtesy of Archives of Ontario (Series RG-14-162-2-27, Box B984, Photo #2623S) 
 Left - Facing west along Hwy 17 towards Nipigon from Kama Hill (1939). Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Right - New asphalt pavement on Hwy 17 west of Kenora (1939). Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation  Above - Postcard view of Hwy 17 at the Port Arthur Welcome Arch in 1939. Welcome arches such as this were a common sight at the entrances to many Northern Ontario towns up until the 1960s and 1970s. Nearly all of these welcome arches were built during the 1930s and many of them feature some type of Art Deco-inspired embellishment. Of all the welcome arches that existed in Ontario, the Port Arthur Welcome Arch was the finest example built during the Art Deco period. The arch was blue in colour, and boasted bright neon tube letters and an internally illuminated electric clock above the highway. Photo courtesy of The Camera Shop, Thunder Bay 
 Left - Postcard view of the original concrete arch bridge over the Aux Sable River in Massey (ca. 1940). This structure still stands today just to the north of the current Hwy 17 structure in Massey, although it is almost completely hidden by the current bridge. Right - Postcard view of the Serpent River Bridge on Hwy 17 near Cutler (ca. 1940). This two-span concrete rigid frame bridge was built in 1937 & 1938. The old structure was replaced with a new concrete bridge in 2004. 
 Left - Postcard showing a paved section of Hwy 17 near Kenora with an older-style square curve warning sign (ca. 1940). Right - Postcard view of Hwy 17 near Port Arthur showing the Sibley Peninsula's "Sleeping Giant" rock formation (ca. 1940). 
 Left - Postcard view of Hwy 17 crossing Cavers Hill near Rossport, showing nearby Lake Superior (ca. 1940). Photo courtesy of The Camera Shop, Thunder Bay Right - Postcard showing Hwy 17 at Cavers Hill near Rossport (ca. 1940). Note the scenic turn-out at right. Although it is hidden in the trees today, this small scenic lookout point can still be found on the old highway alignment at Cavers Hill. Photo courtesy of The Camera Shop, Thunder Bay  Above - Postcard view of the Nipigon River Bridge on Hwy 17 (ca. 1940). Photo courtesy of The Camera Shop, Thunder Bay  Above - Department of Highways roadside park on Hwy 17 between Orleans and Cumberland (1941). Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation 
 Left - Postcard showing an aerial view of the Keewatin Narrows Bridge on Hwy 17 (ca. 1945). Right - Postcard showing the old Hwy 17 entrance gates to Sault Ste. Marie (ca. 1945).  Above - Facing south along Hwy 17 approaching Alona Bay, north of Sault Ste. Marie (1948). Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation 
 Left - Base course pavement on Hwy 17, 10 miles east of North Bay (1948). Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Right - Concrete pavement on Hwy 17, 3 miles east of Wahnapitei in 1949. This interesting photo shows a section of twin-slab concrete pavement laid during a highway construction project that was carried out east of Sudbury in 1939. Note the mountable "rollover" curb and gutter installation on the grade in the foreground. This is likely one of the earliest examples of this type of curb and gutter construction on an Ontario provincial highway. Although it has been slightly modified over the years, this type of curb and gutter design is still in use on Ontario's highways today. Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation 
 Left - Hwy 17 at Selim Hill facing west towards Nipigon (July 10, 1949). Photo Courtesy of Archives of Ontario (Series RG-14-162-5-122, Box B1030, Photo #251A) The dangerous double switchback and level railway crossing at Selim Hill was bypassed by a new highway alignment and railway grade separation in 1952. The old highway alignment is now just an overgrown dirt trail, as seen in this present day photo. Right - Train approaching the level railway crossing on Hwy 17 at Selim Hill (July 10, 1949). Photo Courtesy of Archives of Ontario (Series RG-14-162-5-122, Box B1030, Photo #251B) 
 Left - Construction of the new Mississagi River Bridge on Hwy 17 at Iron Bridge (1949). Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Centre - Old Vermilion River Bridge in 1949, shown shortly before it was removed. This steel truss bridge was dismantled and removed from Hwy 17 near Whitefish and reassembled on a new site on Hwy 64 at North Monetville. Post-war shortages of structural steel resulted in the "recycling" of many steel truss bridges such as this one in the 1940s and 1950s. Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Right - New Hwy 17 Bridge at the Vermilion River east of Whitefish in 1949. This bridge is still in service today on Former Hwy 17 (Sudbury Road 55). Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation 
 Left - New CPR (later known as the OVR) Overhead on Hwy 17 on Des Joachims Diversion (1949). Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Centre - Montreal Road (Hwy 17) and Granville Street in Eastview (now Vanier) in 1949. Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Right - Temporary Bailey Bridge on Hwy 17 at the English River (1949). Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation 
 Left - New Des Joachims lookout and rest area built by the Department of Highways on Hwy 17 between Mattawa and Petawawa (1949). Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Centre - Grading for new Hwy 17 (Hwy 17 Alt) east of Ottawa, between Greens Creek and Orleans (1949). Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation Right - Preparing to blast rock for the extension of Hwy 17 east of Terrace Bay (1949). Photo courtesy of Ontario Ministry of Transportation |
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