Ontario Highway 17 Photographs - Page 21 - History of Ontario's Kings Highways

Left - Large rock cut on Hwy 17 north of Alona Bay, facing south towards Sault Ste. Marie. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Close-up of the rock cut on Hwy 17 at Alona Bay. Note the wire netting and concrete patching installed on the near-vertical rock face. This was done to reduce the risk of loose rocks falling onto the highway below. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Abandoned Hwy 17 alignment north of Alona Bay. The original highway passed well to the east of the large Alona Bay Rock Cut, but was abandoned during a highway improvement project in the 1960s. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - The original highway alignment rejoins the current highway north of the Alona Bay Rock Cut. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - The original white centre lines are still visible on the abandoned Hwy 17 alignment. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - The elevation of the new road was reduced considerably compared to the original highway. The former alignment emerges at the top of a large embankment. In this photo, I am standing on the original pavement while my camera is positioned on the current highway. The scale of this massive grade reduction at Alona Bay is quite apparent. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - The Montreal River carved out this narrow gorge at Montreal River Harbour. The bridge above carries Hwy 17 north into Lake Superior Provincial Park. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Hwy 17 rounds a sharp horizontal curve before ascending the Montreal River Hill. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 17 part-way up the Montreal River Hill. This long 7% grade proves to be quite difficult for heavy trucks to ascend. A passing lane has been added along northbound Hwy 17 to facilitate vehicle overtaking on the hill. The hill at Montreal River is one of the most significant grades on Hwy 17 between Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa. A fog-enshrouded Lake Superior can be seen in the background beyond the base of the hill. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Hwy 17 rounds another curve part-way up Montreal River Hill. Note the traces of the original 1940s highway alignment at right, which was bypassed in order to improve the highway's geometry. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - This beautiful reverse curve on Hwy 17 near the top of Montreal River Hill is arguably one of the most spectacular sections of highway in the province. The highway offers motorists a stunning view of Lake Superior to the west, before the road slips through a notch between two forested mountains near the hill's crest. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - View of the reverse curve on Montreal River Hill from the highway's elevation. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Hwy 17 rounds one final curve before emerging at the summit of Montreal River Hill. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - An older creosoted timber box culvert still exists underneath Hwy 17 at Montreal River Hill. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Approaching the crest of Montreal River Hill from the north along Hwy 17. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - The view of Lake Superior is revealed just over the crest of the Montreal River Hill. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Lake Superior lies almost 900 feet below the summit of Montreal River Hill. The highway then drops precipitously towards the lake through a series of sweeping curves, making it one of Ontario's most spectacular sections of highway. Sadly, this magnificent roadside view may one day be eliminated. The MTO is considering the possibility of relocating Hwy 17 further inland to improve the highway's geometry. Under this proposal, the Montreal River Hill would be closed off permanently to traffic. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Steep grade warning sign at the crest of Montreal River Hill on Hwy 17. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 17 towards Wawa from the crest of Montreal River Hill. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south along Hwy 17 towards crest of Montreal River Hill. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on July 2, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)