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This page contains present day photos (Year 2000 to date) of Ontario's King's Highway 17, arranged by location from Deep River
westerly to North Bay. All photographs displayed on this page were taken by the Webmaster (Cameron Bevers), unless specifically noted otherwise. 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 10: Present Day King's Highway 17 Photographs (Mattawa to North Bay)
  Left - Facing east along McConnell Street (Hwy 17) at Hurdman Street in Mattawa. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - View of the western entrance to Mattawa, facing east along McConnell Street (Hwy 17). Although the highway passes though several small communities east
of North Bay, Mattawa is the only urbanized town located along Hwy 17 between North Bay and Deep River, located in the Upper Ottawa Valley. The Department of Highways
of Ontario (DHO) assumed jurisdiction over the Trans-Canada Highway (also known as the North Bay-Mattawa Trunk Road) on June 30, 1937. Upon assumption, the
Trans-Canada Highway was assigned the King's Highway 17 designation by DHO, as it was essentially an extension of the existing route of Hwy 17 between the
Ontario-Quebec Boundary and Pembroke. See an Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
Left - Facing west along Hwy 17 towards Earl's Lake Road, about 1 km west of Mattawa. Note the old highway alignment climbing the steep hill in the distance.
The route of Hwy 17 was reconstructed on a new alignment for a distance of about 5 km west of Mattawa (Earl's Lake Diversion) during the late 1950s. See an
Enlarged Photo Here. (Photograph taken on June 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Beginning of the Earl's Lake Diversion on Hwy 17, facing west towards North Bay. The original 1937 route of Hwy 17 climbed up the hill to the right,
while the newer diversion of Hwy 17 curves to the left. The Earl's Lake Diversion was completed in 1958. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - View of Hwy 17 at the eastern end of the Earl's Lake Diversion, facing east towards Mattawa. At this point, the newer diversion of Hwy 17 connects back
into the original 1937 route of Hwy 17. See an Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Facing west along Old Hwy 17 west of Mattawa. Coming from the east, this bypassed alignment of Hwy 17 can be accessed from Neault Road, which connects to Hwy 17 about 2 km west of Mattawa. At one time, a small roadside park and lookout was operated by DHO on the northern side of Hwy 17 at the crest of Mattawa Hill. See an Enlarged Photo Here. (Photograph taken on June 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers) 
Left - Facing east along Old Hwy 17 towards Mattawa. Note the new alignment of Hwy 17 (Earl's Lake Diversion), which joins in on the right in the far
background. About 5 km of Hwy 17's route was relocated in the late 1950s in order to avoid the steep grades on the original highway approaching Mattawa. Compare my
2006 photo above to this Historical Photo from the 1950s, showing the same section of highway
taken from the Mattawa Hill Lookout before the Earl's Lake Diversion was built in 1958. See an
Enlarged Photo Here. (Photograph taken on June 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - The old alignment of Hwy 17 near Mattawa was bypassed because of its steep grades. Jurisdiction over this bypassed loop of Hwy 17 up the Mattawa Hill was transferred from the DHO to the Township of Papineau in November 1964. See an Enlarged Photo Here. (Photograph taken on June 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers) 
Left - This abandoned section of Hwy 17 between Mattawa and Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park was left behind following the construction of the Earl's Lake
Diversion during the late 1950s. The asphalt pavement seen here was laid in 1948, when DHO rapidly paved Hwy 17 through the Upper Ottawa Valley and westerly from
Mattawa towards North Bay. In fact, so much asphalt was laid along Hwy 17 in the late 1940s that the DHO had to establish its own asphalt plant near Mattawa in order
to provide an adequate supply of materials to pave this lengthy section of Hwy 17. See an
Enlarged Photo Here. (Photograph taken on June 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Western end of the Earl's Lake Diversion on Hwy 17 west of Mattawa. Coming from the west, the former alignment of Hwy 17 is rather prominently signed.
See an Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing west along Hwy 17 from the western end of the Earl's Lake Diversion. The revised alignment of Hwy 17 ties back into the original 1937 route of
Hwy 17 at the end of this curve. A westbound passing lane also comes to an end just ahead. There are several passing lanes situated along Hwy 17 between Mattawa and
North Bay. See an Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - View of Hwy 17 facing east towards the Pautois Creek Bridge, located just west of the entrance to Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Northern side of the Pautois Creek Bridge on Hwy 17, located about 11 km west of
Mattawa. This single-span concrete rigid frame structure was built under Contract #1965-23 and was completed in 1966. This bridge underwent a fairly substantial
rehabilitation in the late 1980s. See an Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Facing east along Hwy 17 towards Mattawa at the Pautois Creek Bridge. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Southern side of the Pautois Creek Bridge on Hwy 17 west of Mattawa, located about 4 km east of the Hwy 630 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Date stamp (1989) and structure identification number (Site #43-88) on the Pautois Creek Bridge on Hwy 17. In this case, the date of 1989 refers to the
last major rehabilitation of this structure rather than the structure's original completion date of 1966. This was one of several bridge rehabilitations which took
place in 1989 as part of reconstruction of Hwy 17 west of Mattawa in the late 1980s. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing west along Hwy 17 towards North Bay at the Pautois Creek Bridge. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Northern side of the Amable du Fond River Bridge on Hwy 17, located about 1 km east of the Hwy 630 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing west along Hwy 17 towards North Bay at the Amable du Fond River Bridge. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Southern side of the Amable du Fond River Bridge on Hwy 17. This single-span steel girder structure was built under Contract #1965-26 & Contract
#1965-172. The new bridge was completed in 1966. This new crossing replaced an earlier steel pony truss bridge built across the Amable du Fond River by the Department
of Northern Development in 1934. See an Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Date stamp (1989) and structure identification number (Site #43-87) on the Amable du Fond River Bridge on Hwy 17. Like the neighbouring Pautois Creek
Bridge, the date of 1989 on the Amable du Fond River Bridge refers to the last major rehabilitation of this structure rather than the structure's original completion
date of 1966. See an Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Facing east along Hwy 17 towards Mattawa at the Amable du Fond River Bridge, located just east of the Hwy 630 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Approaching the Hwy 630 Junction on Hwy 17, showing the destination guide signs facing westbound traffic. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Junction sign assembly facing westbound traffic on Hwy 17 approaching the Hwy 630 Junction west of Mattawa. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Junction sign assembly and fingerboard guide signs at the Hwy 17 & Hwy 630 Junction between Mattawa and North Bay. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Facing east along Hwy 17 towards Mattawa from the Hwy 630 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers)  Above - An older pre-1990s King's Highway 17 route marker sign on Hwy 630 approaching the Hwy 17 Junction. Although Ontario removed the traditional name "The
King's Highway" from our highway signs beginning in 1993, one can still occasionally find an older route marker out along the highways which date from that earlier
era even today. However, they are certainly becoming fewer in number as each year passes. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Approaching the northern terminus of Hwy 630 at Hwy 17 Junction between Mattawa and North Bay. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Facing south along Hwy 630 from the Hwy 17 Junction west of Mattawa. This Secondary Highway was established in 1961 to service the small community of
Kiosk. Although the community of Kiosk is now abandoned, the highway still serves a campground of the same name within Algonquin Provincial Park. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing west along Hwy 17 towards North Bay from the Hwy 630 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Approaching the Hwy 630 Junction on Hwy 17, facing east towards Mattawa. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing east along Hwy 17 towards Mattawa about 1 km west of the Hwy 630 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 19, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - View of Hwy 17 about 3 km west of the Hwy 630 Junction, facing west towards North Bay. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers)  Above - View of the Pimisi Lake Roadside Park located along Hwy 17 between the Hwy 630 Junction and Rutherglen. This small but very scenic roadside park sits
in a grove of mature trees and offers several amenities for motorists using Hwy 17, including picnic tables, parking, toilets, boat launching for smaller vessels and
a small waterfront beach on Pimisi Lake (Mattawa River). See an Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - View of the waterfront at the Pimisi Lake Roadside Park on Hwy 17. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - View of Hwy 17 about 3 km east of Rutherglen, facing west towards North Bay. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing west along Hwy 17, about 1 km east of Rutherglen. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - View of Hwy 17 at Rutherglen, facing west. This small rural community is situated just south of Hwy 17, about 35 km east of North Bay. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing east along Hwy 17 towards Mattawa at the Sharpes Creek Bridge, located at the western entrance to Rutherglen. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Northern side of the Sharpes Creek Bridge on Hwy 17 near Rutherglen. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing west along Hwy 17 towards North Bay at the Sharpes Creek Bridge near Rutherglen. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Southern side of the Sharpes Creek Bridge on Hwy 17. This single-span concrete rigid frame girder structure was completed in 1959. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Green guide signs facing westbound traffic on Hwy 17 marking the upcoming Hwy 531 Junction near Bonfield. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - View of Hwy 17 approaching the Hwy 531 Junction near Bonfield, facing west towards North Bay. The route of Hwy 531 intersects with Hwy 17 about 23 km east of the North Bay Bypass (Hwy 11 & Hwy 17) Interchange located at the eastern entrance to North Bay. See an Enlarged Photo Here. (Photograph taken on June 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing east along Hwy 17 towards Mattawa from the Hwy 531 Junction near Bonfield. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Distance guide sign facing eastbound traffic on Hwy 17 at the Hwy 531 Junction near Bonfield. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing west along Hwy 17 towards North Bay at the Hwy 531 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Green guide signs facing westbound traffic on Hwy 17 marking the Hwy 531 Junction near Bonfield. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing south along Hwy 531 towards Bonfield from the Hwy 17 Junction. Hwy 531 was one of the original routes of Ontario's Secondary Highway System,
which was first designated in 1956. This significant expansion of the provincial highway network was intended to provide improved transportation links to major
highways from communities and towns located in less populated regions of Northern and Eastern Ontario. Hwy 531 extends south from Hwy 17 to the unincorporated
community of Bonfield. However, the community of Bonfield is situated within the larger Township of Bonfield, which is an incorporated municipality. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Approaching the northern terminus of Hwy 531 at the Hwy 17 Junction north of Bonfield. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Junction sign assembly and fingerboard guide signs at the Hwy 17 & Hwy 531 Junction east of North Bay. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Facing west along Hwy 17 towards North Bay from the Hwy 531 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Approaching the Hwy 531 Junction on Hwy 17, facing east towards Mattawa. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Facing west along Hwy 17 at the Kabuskong River Bridge, located just west of the Hwy 531 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Northern side of the Kabuskong River Bridge on Hwy 17 near Bonfield. This single-span steel plate girder structure was completed in 1960. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Southern side of the Kabuskong River Bridge on Hwy 17 near Bonfield. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing east along Hwy 17 towards the Hwy 531 Junction at the Kabuskong River Bridge. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - An abandoned section of Hwy 17 near Bonfield, which was bypassed by an improved highway alignment. Although the pavement seen here was laid in 1947, it has preserved remarkably well. This road hasn't been used by Hwy 17 traffic since the late 1950s. See an Enlarged Photo Here. (Photograph taken on June 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers) 
Left - A former alignment of Hwy 17 glides off into the forests near Bonfield. Relocations such as this one are visible in several places along Hwy 17 between
Mattawa and North Bay. Improvements were made to both the horizontal and vertical alignment of Hwy 17 to accommodate faster through traffic. In some cases, it was
simply not practical or economical to improve the highway's geometry on its existing alignment. See an
Enlarged Photo Here. (Photograph taken on June 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - This abandoned Hwy 17 alignment near Bonfield has almost completely succumbed to the advancing forest. See an Enlarged Photo Here. (Photograph taken on June 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers) 
Left - This abandoned section of Hwy 17 near Bonfield has fared somewhat better, as it is now part of a driveway. See an
Enlarged Photo Here. (Photograph taken on June 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - A substantial vertical sag curve on an abandoned alignment of Hwy 17 near Bonfield. This vertical profile was likely quite uncomfortable for vehicle occupants when travelling through this curve at high speeds. Today, vertical sag curves are designed with road user comfort in mind, as well as ensuring that a vehicle's headlights illuminate the highway's surface for a sufficient distance ahead during night travel. See an Enlarged Photo Here. (Photograph taken on June 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - View of Hwy 17 about 8 km west of the Hwy 531 Junction, facing west. Traffic volumes are noticeably higher along Hwy 17 on the approach to North Bay.
See an Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Facing west along Hwy 17 approaching the Hwy 94 Junction near Corbeil. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Green guide sign marking the Hwy 94 Junction on westbound Hwy 17. Hwy 94 is an interesting outlier, as is the only 90s-numbered King's Highway
located in Northern Ontario. All of the other highways numbered in the 90s are located throughout the southern half of Ontario. Although there are some exceptions,
Ontario's King's Highway route numbers were assigned more or less sequentially, with highway numbering beginning at Hwy 2. Accordingly, lower-numbered King's Highways
were generally acquired by the province earlier than those routes with higher numbers. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Facing west along Hwy 17 towards the Hwy 94 Junction near Corbeil. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing east along Hwy 17 towards Mattawa from the Hwy 94 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Distance guide sign on eastbound Hwy 17 near the Hwy 94 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Junction sign assembly at the eastern terminus of Hwy 94 at the Hwy 17 Junction east of North Bay. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - View of the Hwy 17 & Hwy 94 Junction near Corbeil, facing east. At the time this photo was taken in 2012, traffic on Hwy 94 was under Stop-control.
The flashing overhead intersection warning beacon was removed when traffic signals were installed at this intersection in recent years. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Hwy 17 & Hwy 94 Junction near Corbeil, facing east towards Mattawa. Like many of
Northern Ontario's King's Highways, Hwy 94 was previously a Department of Northern Development Trunk Road. This Trunk Road branched off of the North Bay-Mattawa Trunk
Road near Corbeil and headed southwesterly to join the Ferguson Highway (now Hwy 11) in Callander. The Callander-Corbeil Trunk Road was ultimately taken over by the
DHO and assigned the Hwy 94 designation in 1937. See an Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Facing west along Hwy 17 towards North Bay from the Hwy 94 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Facing west along Hwy 94 towards Corbeil from the Hwy 17 Junction east of North Bay. Hwy 94 forms a short cut-off highway between the Hwy 11
Interchange near Callander and the Hwy 17 Junction near Corbeil. Motorists who use Hwy 94 to travel between Hwy 17 east of North Bay and Hwy 11 south of North Bay
will find their journey shortened by about 12 km by using Hwy 94, versus staying on Hwy 11 and Hwy 17 through the North Bay Interchange. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Approaching the eastern terminus of Hwy 94 at the Hwy 17 Junction near Corbeil. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - View of the Hwy 17 & Hwy 94 Junction, facing east towards Mattawa. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Distance guide sign on westbound Hwy 17 near the Hwy 94 Junction. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - Western approach to the Hwy 17 & Hwy 94 Junction near Corbeil, facing east. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Changeable Message Sign (CMS) on eastbound Hwy 17 departing from North Bay. Once only a fixture on Toronto-area freeways, CMS installations such as
this one can now be found throughout the province to give motorists real-time information about highway incidents and road closures. When there are no incidents to
report, the signs will default to a rotating sequence of road safety messages. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - City of North Bay municipal boundary sign on westbound Hwy 17, about 5 km east of the North Bay Bypass (Hwy 11 & Hwy 17) Interchange. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Facing west along Hwy 17 towards North Bay about 3 km east of the North Bay Bypass (Hwy 11 & Hwy 17) Interchange. See an Enlarged Photo Here. (Photograph taken on June 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers) 
 Left - View of Hwy 17 about 2 km east of the North Bay Bypass (Hwy 11 & Hwy 17) Interchange, facing east towards Mattawa. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) Right - Facing west along Hwy 17 about 1 km east of the North Bay Bypass (Hwy 11 & Hwy 17) Interchange. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers)  Above - Distance guide sign on eastbound Hwy 17 departing from the Hwy 11 Interchange in North Bay. See an
Enlarged Photo Here.(Photograph taken on July 20, 2012 - © Cameron Bevers) |
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