Ontario Highway 17 Photographs - Page 28 - History of Ontario's Kings Highways

Left - Hwy 17 winds its way south around Gravel Bay towards Cavers Hill, north of Rossport. Although it is 4 km away, Cavers Hill is clearly visible - it is the long finger of land jutting into Lake Superior from the left-hand side of the photo. This view of Gravel Bay is one of many spectacular vistas of Lake Superior between Rossport and Nipigon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - View of Gravel Bay on Lake Superior from Hwy 17, located about 20 km north of Rossport.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 17 towards Nipigon at the Gravel River Bridge, about 25 km north of Rossport.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Western side of the Gravel River Bridge on Hwy 17. Structure completed in 1961. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 17 towards Rossport at the Gravel River Bridge.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Eastern side of the Gravel River Bridge on Hwy 17.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - The Gravel River Bridge on Hwy 17 is a continuous steel girder structure. During construction of the North Shore Highway (Hwy 17) in 1935, a long timber truss bridge was built over the Gravel River. In 1961, the original timber truss bridge was replaced by the current steel girder structure seen here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing north along Hwy 17 towards Nipigon at the Little Gravel River Bridge.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Eastern side of the Little Gravel River Bridge on Hwy 17 between Rossport and Nipigon. Structure completed in 1961.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Western side of the Little Gravel River Bridge on Hwy 17. This is one of the only concrete rigid frame structures along Hwy 17 in the Thunder Bay area.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 17 towards Rossport at the Little Gravel River Bridge. The Canadian Pacific Railway runs directly beside the highway. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Western side of the Cypress River Bridge on Hwy 17. Structure completed in 1961. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Cypress River Bridge on Hwy 17, facing north towards Nipigon. The Cypress River Bridge is located about 37 km south of the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south along Hwy 17 towards Rossport at the Cypress River Bridge, south of Nipigon.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Eastern side of the Cypress River Bridge on Hwy 17. This steel girder structure is one of many bridges of this type along Hwy 17 near Thunder Bay. The original bridge spanning the Cypress River was a "low" timber pony truss structure, that was built in 1935. The old timber bridge was replaced with the current structure seen here in 1961.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south along Hwy 17 towards Dublin Creek and Nipigon Bay, about 27 km south of Nipigon. A passing lane was provided for northbound traffic, since the highway climbs several hundred feet in elevation in only a short distance. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 17 approaching the Kama Hill Rock Cut, south of Nipigon.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south along Hwy 17 towards Nipigon Bay from the Kama Hill Rock Cut. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 17 towards the Kama Hill Rock Cut. Note the advance warning sign for the steep grade ahead.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south along Hwy 17 towards Rossport from the Kama Hill MTO Roadside Park entrance. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Kama Hill Rock Cut on Hwy 17, facing north towards Nipigon. This massive rock cut was excavated in the 1950s, during reconstruction of the North Shore Highway (Hwy 17). The original rock cut was widened in the 1990s when northbound and southbound passing lanes were added to Hwy 17. The original two-lane Kama Hill Rock Cut can be seen here is this historic circa 1965 Photo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south along Hwy 17 through the massive Kama Hill Rock Cut south of Nipigon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Cresting over Kama Hill on Hwy 17, facing north towards Nipigon. Hwy 17 briefly widens to a four-lane cross section through the Kama Hill Rock Cut, due to the concurrent northbound and southbound passing lanes. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Rock cut on Hwy 17 through Kama Hill, located 26 km south of the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon. Note the original highway alignment at right, which was closed to traffic after the rock cut was widened and the curve at the north end of the rock cut was improved. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 29, 2003 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Looking west from the Kama Hill MTO Roadside Park. Note the Canadian Pacific Railway line located at the bottom of the cliff.
(Photograph taken on August 29, 2003 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - This spectacular view of Kama Bay can be viewed from the MTO Roadside Park on Kama Hill. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 29, 2003 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - A short distance north of the MTO Roadside Park on Kama Hill, another spectacular view of Hwy 17 and Kama Bay appears. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - The rocks excavated from Kama Hill were used as fill on the northern side of the rock cut, in order to remove a sharp curve on the original highway alignment. Prior to reconstruction of the Kama Hill section of Hwy 17 in the 1950s, the descent from Kama Hill was one of the steepest grades along the entire highway.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - This spectacular view of Kama Bay greets motorists on Northbound Hwy 17 as they emerge from the Kama Hill Rock Cut.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing north along Hwy 17 towards Nipigon, approaching the Jackpine River Bridge. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 17 towards Rossport from the Jackpine River Bridge. A southbound passing lane begins immediately to the south of the Jackpine River Bridge, on the ascent towards the Kama Hill Rock Cut located about 1 km to the south.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Scenic view of the Jackpine River Bridge on Hwy 17. This single span steel beam structure was completed in 1960, replacing a 1930s-era "low" timber pony truss structure. I just wish I could have stood in this exact spot in the late 1950s to photograph the original Jackpine River timber truss bridge. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Jackpine River Bridge on Hwy 17, facing south towards Rossport.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing north along Hwy 17 towards Nipigon at the Jackpine River Bridge.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Eastern side of the Jackpine River Bridge on Hwy 17, located 25 km south of the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - View of Fire Hill and Kama Bay, as seen from the roadside lookout on Hwy 17 below the Kama Hills.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - The Kama Hills rise majestically above Hwy 17 near Nipigon. The near-vertical face of the cliffs were a daunting obstacle for early road builders. Crossing the Kama Hills was one of the biggest challenges encountered while constructing the North Shore Highway (Hwy 17) in the 1930s. Given the limited capabilities of highway construction equipment at that time, it is actually quite incredible that this section of Hwy 17 was built as early as it was.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - The Kama Hills almost completely seal off Lake Superior's North Shore. Only a tiny gap, measuring less than 90 metres, exists between the steep cliffs and the Lake Superior shoreline. Hwy 17 was squeezed in between the cliffs and the neighbouring Canadian Pacific Railway, by cutting the roadway into the talus slope lying at the bottom of the Kama Hills.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Hwy 17 is dwarfed by the scenic Kama Hills lining Nipigon Bay's eastern shore. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on September 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - The views of Nipigon Bay from Hwy 17 at the Kama Hills are quite outstanding. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on September 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - This section of the roadway is cut into the side of the Kama Hills. Note the steep slopes both above and below the highway. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on September 4, 2006 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - The rocks at the side of the Kama Hills were recently cut back to provide greater visibility around the curve and to improve drainage. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Rock ledge underneath the Kama Hills on Hwy 17. The highway was literally notched out of the rock face. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south along Hwy 17 underneath the Kama Hills. Note the rock cage above the highway, installed to catch loose rocks falling from the cliffs. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Descending from the Kama Hills on Hwy 17, facing north towards Nipigon. The bright red rocks of Nipigon Bay are quite striking. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Abandoned Hwy 17 alignment near Ozone Creek, south of the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon.
(Photograph taken on September 3, 2004 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - The original 1930s Hwy 17 alignment near Ozone Creek joins the current alignment of Hwy 17 in the background. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on September 3, 2004 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - View of the Kama Hills from the Ozone Creek Bridge on Hwy 17, facing south towards Rossport.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Western side of the Ozone Creek Bridge on Hwy 17. This concrete box culvert was completed in 1960, replacing a "low" timber pony truss structure that was built in the 1930s.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Ozone Creek Bridge on Hwy 17, facing south towards Rossport.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 17 towards Nipigon at the Ozone Creek Bridge.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Eastern side of the Ozone Creek Bridge on Hwy 17, located about 18 km south of the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - The Ozone Creek Bridge is one of the only bridges left in the Thunder Bay area that still has its original steel handrails.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south on Hwy 17 towards the Kama Hills, approaching Ozone Creek. The Kama Hills tower more than 1,100 feet above the Ozone Creek Valley. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - The Kama Hills rise prominently along the horizon as Hwy 17 rounds this curve about 16 km south of Nipigon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south along Hwy 17 towards Rossport from the Jackfish River Bridge.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Jackfish River Bridge on Hwy 17, facing south towards Rossport.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Western side of the Jackfish River Bridge on Hwy 17. This two-span steel plate girder structure was built in 1960, replacing a Howe-type timber through truss structure built in 1935.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north across the Jackfish River Bridge on Hwy 17. This is the last major bridge on Hwy 17 before reaching the Nipigon River.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Eastern side of the Jackfish River Bridge on Hwy 17, located about 13 km south of the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 17 approaching the Jackfish River Bridge. Scenic Fire Hill overlooks the highway at right. These steep-sided mesas are quite impressive, and are unique to the Thunder Bay and Nipigon area of Ontario. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Reverse curve on Hwy 17, about 10 km south of the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - View of Hwy 17 facing north between the Jackfish River Bridge and the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on September 3, 2004 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing north along Hwy 17 approaching the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon. The two highways meet just beyond the curve in the background. From there, both Hwy 11 & Hwy 17 share a concurrent route into Thunder Bay. Nipigon itself lies on the south side of Hwy 11 & Hwy 17, about 1 km west of the highway junction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - A passing lane opens up on Southbound Hwy 17, about 1 km south of the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon. This passing lane was only built a few years ago.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Distance sign on Southbound Hwy 17 near the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon. It is nearly 600 km from Nipigon to Sault Ste. Marie. Although it is a long way, the highway lying in between boasts some of the best scenery in the province, with countless scenic views of Lake Superior.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Distance sign on Southbound Hwy 17 near the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon, showing the distances to various North Shore communities.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south along Hwy 17 towards Rossport from the Hwy 11 Junction at Nipigon. Between Nipigon and Sault Ste. Marie, Hwy 17 is signed as a north-south highway. Although sections of the highway around Lake Superior were completed by the 1930s, the route of Hwy 17 between Nipigon and Sault Ste. Marie wasn't completed in its entirety until 1960.
(Photograph taken on August 30, 2011 - © Cameron Bevers)