Ontario Highway 35 Photographs - Page 8 - History of Ontario's Kings Highways

Left - Green guide sign marking the former Hwy 121 Junction north of Minden. Haliburton County renumbered the west leg of County Road 121 (Formerly Hwy 121) as County Road 21, in order to differentiate this route from the south leg of former Hwy 121 between Minden and Fenelon Falls. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on September 19, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south along Hwy 35 from the former Hwy 121 North Junction at Minden. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on September 19, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 35 from the former Hwy 121 North Junction at Minden. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on September 19, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - View of the Gull River Bridge along Hwy 35 at the northern entrance to Minden, facing north towards Carnarvon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in September 19, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - View of the old and new bridges over the Gull River on Hwy 35. A new structure (Site #40-31) was built across the Gull River in 2001, during reconstruction and widening of Hwy 35 through Minden under Contract #2000-71. Although it had already been demolished by the time this photo was taken in 2008, a three-span steel girder bridge existed here beforehand. The steel bridge was built under Contracts #1949-58 (concrete substructure and approaches) and #1949-67 (supply of structural steel). Construction began on this bridge in the Summer of 1949 and it was completed in 1950. An even older concrete bridge once carried Hwy 35 across the Gull River, which can be seen in the background of this photo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on September 19, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - View of the old Hwy 35 bridge across the Gull River in Minden, facing north. This single-lane concrete structure used to carry traffic on Hwy 35 up until the completion of a new-two lane bridge across the Gull River in 1950. Prior to that time, motorists had to take turns crossing this narrow concrete bridge by yielding to any oncoming traffic. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 30, 2005 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Western side of the old Gull River Bridge in Minden. This concrete structure was constructed years before the assumption of the Minden-Dorset Road as part of Hwy 35 by the Department of Highways of Ontario (DHO) in 1937. It is believed that this concrete bridge dates to about 1930. Historical road design drawings, believed to have been prepared during the 1920s, suggest that this bridge was originally proposed to be a "King Post" timber truss structure. For some reason, this structure (identified on the historical drawings as Structure "B") was ultimately built as a concrete bridge. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 30, 2005 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Eastern side of the old Gull River Bridge on a former alignment of Hwy 35 in Minden. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 30, 2005 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - The old Gull River Bridge in Minden is overshadowed by a massive concrete I-Beam bridge which carries today's Hwy 35. It is believed that this small concrete bridge was built by the Department of Northern Development in the early 1930s, as part of the construction of a new Trunk Road between Minden and Dorset. The Department of Northern Development was responsible for the construction of many Trunk Roads throughout Northern, Central and Eastern Ontario during the 1920s and 1930s. The Department of Northern Development was amalgamated with the DHO in 1937, after which time many of these Northern Development Trunk Roads were designated as King's Highways. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 30, 2005 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Old Gull River Bridge on a former alignment of Hwy 35 at the northern entrance to Minden, facing south. This simple but elegant concrete bowstring bridge was used as a snowmobile trail in the winter for many years. To my knowledge, the Gull River Bridge at Minden was the last remaining closed-sided bowstring arch bridge left in the province. Unfortunately, this structure was demolished in recent years due to advancing deterioration. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 30, 2005 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Below-deck view of the Old Gull River Bridge at the northern entrance to Minden. The timber planks below the deck between the girders are believed to have been left behind from a historical bridge rehabilitation project. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on September 19, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Close-up view of the concrete bowstring arch on the Old Gull River Bridge. Time has taken its toll on this old structure, with the bridge suffering from severe concrete delamination due to exposed reinforcing steel which has badly rusted. Sadly, this interesting old bridge was demolished not too long after I took these photos in 2008. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in September 19, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 35 approaching the Gull River Bridge at the northern entrance to Minden. During the replacement of the Gull River Bridge in 2001, the entire highway was shifted onto a two-lane Bailey Bridge along the western side of the proposed structure while the bridge was replaced on the existing highway's centreline. This was done to maintain the existing alignment of Hwy 35 through this area rather than introduce a permanent alignment shift to one side or the other. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Distance guide sign facing northbound traffic on Hwy 35 departing from Minden. Interestingly, Huntsville is used as the northbound control city on Hwy 35 north of Minden. Many years ago, Hwy 35 used to come to an end in Huntsville. The section of Hwy 35 from Dwight to Huntsville ran concurrently with Hwy 60 between 1937 and 1966, when the overlapped route was discontinued and Hwy 35 was truncated at the Hwy 60 Junction in Dwight. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 35 towards Carnarvon from Ransley Road located about 4 km north of Minden. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Motorists catch their first glimpse of Mountain Lake as Hwy 35 rounds this curve about 4 km north of Minden. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Above - These overgrown remnants of Hwy 35 lie in the forest along the eastern side of the current highway about 6 km north of Minden. Although it may seem hard to believe, this former alignment of Hwy 35 last carried traffic in the early 1970s. This winding section of the highway was bypassed by an improved alignment a short distance to the west under Contract #1973-21, with the old roadway graded out rather than abandoned in place. As a result, the forests have swallowed up the former highway's route at a rapid pace. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - By comparison, the revised Hwy 35 alignment constructed in the early 1970s had an improved horizontal and vertical alignment which increased passing opportunities for motorists using the highway. Prior to reconstruction of Hwy 35 during the 1970s, it would have been very difficult to safely pass slow vehicles on this winding highway. This view of Hwy 35 can be found about 6 km north of Minden. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Facing north along Hwy 35 about 6.5 km north of Minden. A substantial vertical profile revision was made to Hwy 35 at this location in the early 1970s. A rock cut was blasted straight through a hill under Contract #1973-21, which created new passing opportunities for motorists using the highway. With this hill removed, motorists were provided with a much greater view of the road ahead. The service road seen just to the right of Hwy 35 gives observers some sense of just how much the highway's profile was lowered during the highway's reconstruction. Up until 1973, the driveways connecting to this service road would have all fronted out directly onto Hwy 35. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - View of the service road alongside Hwy 35 north of Minden. The service road was built during reconstruction of the highway in 1973 to service adjacent properties whose direct connections to the highway were severed. However, this service road gives some sense of the original highway's rolling profile. The vertical profile of Hwy 35 was lowered by about 6 metres (20 feet) through the adjacent rock cut. A fill was also built to the south of the rock cut, where the present route of Hwy 35 was built up in elevation by about 3 metres (10 feet). See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Facing south along Hwy 35 towards Minden from Twelve Mile Lake Road. When the province first assumed jurisdiction over the Minden-Dorset Road as part of an extension of Hwy 35 in 1937, it was an indirect and rambling route which snaked its way north through Haliburton County. A major reconstruction project began between Minden and Carnarvon in 1973 under Contract #1973-21 to straighten out Hwy 35 and remove hazardous curves and grades. As a result of this reconstruction in the 1970s, Hwy 35 is a comparatively easy drive today, with long tangent sections where passing is now possible. Undoubtedly, this section of Hwy 35 would have been a very frustrating drive before the reconstruction of 1973-1974, since passing would have been extremely difficult along the original highway. While we take "good highways" for granted in Ontario today, it is important to remember that it hasn't always been that way. The highway system we enjoy today only came about through decades of provincial investments in highways and untold years of engineering and construction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 35 towards Carnarvon approaching Mountain Lake in 2005, about 8 km north of Minden. This photo shows the reconstructed highway, paved shoulder and new concrete curb-and-gutter which was completed under Contract #2004-5002. Throughout the early-to-mid 2000s, several major highway reconstruction projects took place along Hwy 35. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 30, 2005 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Fall colours abound as Hwy 35 rounds this curve about 5 km south of Carnarvon and heads north towards the Mountain Lake Bridge. Motorists looking for a scenic fall drive need not look any further than the Hwy 35 corridor through Haliburton County, which will certainly not disappoint those looking for autumn splendour! See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Western side of the Mountain Lake Bridge on Hwy 35. This single-span steel beam structure was completed in 1980. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Date stamp (1980) and structure identification number (Site #40-32) on the Mountain Lake Bridge on Hwy 35. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 35 towards Carnarvon at the Mountain Lake Bridge, located about 5 km south of Carnarvon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Eastern side of the Mountain Lake Bridge on Hwy 35 between Minden and Carnarvon. The highway crosses at the narrows between Twelve Mile Lake and adjacent Mountain Lake. This concrete and steel bridge was constructed under Contract #1980-64. This newer structure replaced a steel pony truss bridge which was built at this location by the Department of Northern Development in 1936. During reconstruction of the bridge in the early 1980s, Hwy 35 traffic was temporarily diverted onto a Bailey Bridge, which carried traffic across these narrows along the eastern side of the present highway. The replacement bridge was constructed on the existing Hwy 35 centreline in order to avoid a permanent highway alignment shift. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 35 towards Minden approaching the Mountain Lake Bridge. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Scenic autumn view of Mountain Lake as seen from the bridge across the narrows on Hwy 35, located about 5 km south of Carnarvon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - View of the Twelve Mile Lake Dam beside Hwy 35 as seen from the Mountain Lake Bridge. Before the Department of Northern Development constructed a road diversion and steel pony truss bridge across these narrows in 1936, traffic had to cross over this dam when travelling between Minden and Dorset. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Historically, the old Minden-Dorset Trunk Road crossed over Twelve Mile Lake Dam via a one-lane bridge. A new bridge and road diversion was constructed across the narrows in 1936 by the Department of Northern Development in order to eliminate two awkward turns in the old road at each end of the dam. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 30, 2005 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing west across the Twelve Mile Lake Dam north of Minden. The old Minden-Dorset Trunk Road once crossed over this dam. During the 1930s, the Department of Northern Development established a road construction camp known as "Camp #7" immediately northeast of this dam. This construction camp housed road labourers who were put in charge of constructing the new Trunk Road between Minden and Dorset during the first half of the 1930s. The Minden-Dorset Trunk Road was largely completed by the Spring of 1935, although a road diversion and new bridge across the narrows between Twelve Mile Lake and Mountain Lake were not completed until the following year. The Minden-Dorset Trunk Road was assumed by the DHO as part of an extension of Hwy 35, effective October 6, 1937. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 30, 2005 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Scenic view of Hwy 35 beside Twelve Mile Lake between Minden and Carnarvon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 35 towards the narrows between Twelve Mile Lake and adjacent Mountain Lake, located about 5 km south of Carnarvon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Facing north along Hwy 35 about 4 km south of Carnarvon. The road ahead is actually a newer diversion of Hwy 35 which was constructed in the early 1970s. Up until the construction of this new diversion under Contract #1973-21, Hwy 35 followed Red Umbrella Road along the shoreline of Twelve Mile Lake at left. This former section of Hwy 35 was bypassed due to its winding alignment around the lake. About 1 mile of Hwy 35's route was relocated in this area in 1973-1974. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Bypassed section of Hwy 35 (Red Umbrella Road) beside Twelve Mile Lake. Although quiet today, this lakefront road was once a well-travelled King's Highway! See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - This former alignment of Hwy 35 (Red Umbrella Road) north of Minden was bypassed in the 1970s, but was kept open to serve the local community along the lake. Provincial ownership of this former highway route ended in May 1978, when jurisdiction over Old Hwy 35 was transferred over to the Township of Anson, Hindon and Minden. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - The original Hwy 35 alignment curved to the right at this point, away from Red Umbrella Road and the lakeshore. It was determined that this section of the old highway was no longer needed as a public road and was legally closed to traffic in July 1975. The old highway now serves as a private driveway to an adjacent property. This now-closed highway heads northeasterly from this point back to the relocated highway. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Facing south along Hwy 35 towards Minden, about 3 km south of Carnarvon. Careful observers may have noticed the clearing through the trees at right. It was at this point that the original route of Hwy 35 returned from Twelve Mile Lake to meet the relocated route of Hwy 35 which was constructed in the 1970s. The old highway was closed to traffic decades ago. Apart from the clearing through the trees and the utility pole line running through it, one would not likely guess that Hwy 35 once went that way. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - A 1970 Ford Mustang Fastback out for a fall cruise along Hwy 35 at Twelve Mile Lake between Minden and Carnarvon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - View of Bissett Beach along the western side of Hwy 35 about 2 km south of Carnarvon. This small recreation area and beach fronts onto Twelve Mile Lake and is operated by the Township of Minden Hills. Interestingly, this small waterfront park was never operated by MTO as a roadside park and picnic area. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 35 towards the Hwy 118 Junction about 1 km south of Carnarvon. The highway seen directly ahead in this photo is a newer diversion of Hwy 35 which was built in the 1970s. The original route of Hwy 35 curved to the left through the Pepper Mill Restaurant's parking lot and followed today's Maebar Road down to the shores of Twelve Mile Lake. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - View of Old Hwy 35 (Maebar Road) south of Carnarvon. This original section of Hwy 35 was bypassed by an improved Hwy 35 alignment in the early 1970s. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Old Hwy 35 (Maebar Road) at Chambers Road near Carnarvon. Originally, Hwy 35 kept to the left at this fork. This awkward elongated Y-intersection would have been difficult to correct geometrically, so the DHO ultimately decided that the intersection should be bypassed altogether by a relocated Hwy 35 alignment approaching Carnarvon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - This section of Old Hwy 35 (Maebar Road) south of Carnarvon closely follows the shoreline of Twelve Mile Lake. When Ontario's townships were first surveyed in the 19th Century, surveyors would often dedicate a 1 chain (66-foot) "Shore Road Allowance" to the Crown along the shorelines of lakes and rivers. These public rights-of-way were a vestige from a time when travel by water was often more practical that travelling over land. Early settlers who were allocated waterfront lots could be assured of access to their property without having to trespass on any adjacent privately-held lands. As new roads were being built throughout Ontario, these surveyed Shore Road Allowances were often utilized for road-building purposes, since the land was already in public hands. This section of Old Hwy 35 was constructed within the Shore Road Allowance of Twelve Mile Lake. While many Shore Road Allowances have been deeded from the Crown to local municipalities over the years and then subsequently deeded to any abutting land owners, it is very important to ask a surveyor or lawyer about the status of a surveyed Shore Road Allowance before purchasing any waterfront property in Ontario. Those who don't do their due diligence when purchasing may find out after the fact that they do not actually own their cherished waterfront! See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - This section of Old Hwy 35 (Maebar Road) was constructed within the Shore Road Allowance of Twelve Mile Lake. While utilizing surveyed Shore Road Allowances proved to be a simple way for early 20th Century road builders to construct their transportation facilities, this method of construction did create a lot of headaches for engineers as roads became busier. Apart from the obvious problem of losing the road to shoreline erosion, technical considerations such as changing pavement widths, widening roadside shoulders and improving drainage systems were greatly complicated when the road was sandwiched within a 66-foot right-of-way between the shoreline and private property. As a result, many of these shoreline highways were relocated onto new alignments further inland, which provided designers with a freer hand to design highways which were best suited for modern traffic demands. With that being said, something was lost when these highways were relocated further inland, in that scenic shoreline vistas such as this which once greeted motorists travelling along the King's Highways became fewer and further between. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - A winding section of Old Hwy 35 (Maebar Road) south of Carnarvon. Altogether, about 1 km of the original route of Hwy 35 was relocated onto an improved alignment in the 1970s. Jurisdiction over the bypassed route of Hwy 35 seen here was transferred from the province to the Township of Anson, Hindon and Minden in May 1978. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Approaching Carnarvon on Old Hwy 35 (Maebar Road), facing north. Up until the early 1970s, Hwy 35 continued straight ahead at left towards the junction of Secondary Highway 530 (today's Hwy 118) at Carnarvon. As part of the reconstruction of Hwy 35 in this area under Contract #1970-229, the old route of Hwy 35 was realigned so that it curved to the right and connected to the relocated route of Hwy 35 just south of the Hwy 530 Junction. The section of Hwy 35 at left was legally closed to traffic in January 1974 and functions today as a private driveway. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Facing north through the Carnarvon Rock Cut on Hwy 35 south of the Hwy 118 Junction. This large rock cut was excavated in the 1970s as part of a diversion of Hwy 35 which was carried out to improve the highway's alignment on the southern approach to Carnarvon. At its deepest point, the highway's profile is about 50 feet (15 metres) below the surrounding terrain. The rock removed from this cut was used a short distance to the north, where a long rock fill was built to correct a steep hill on Hwy 35 at the approach to the highway junction in Carnarvon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Advance green guide sign on Hwy 35 indicating the upcoming Hwy 118 Junction at Carnarvon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on September 19, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Rock cut on Hwy 35 at the southern entrance to Carnarvon, facing south towards Minden. This 2005 photo shows the reconstructed highway and widened rock cut completed under Contract #2004-5002. This is one of several deep rock cuts along Hwy 35 within Haliburton County - an area of Ontario known for its rugged and rocky landscapes. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken in October 30, 2005 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 35 towards the Hwy 118 Junction from the top of the Carnarvon Rock Cut. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 30, 2005 - © Cameron Bevers)

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Right - Distance guide sign facing southbound Hwy 35 traffic near the Hwy 118 Junction at Carnarvon. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on October 3, 2023 - © Cameron Bevers)