Highway 532 (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
Secondary Highway 532, commonly referred to as Highway 532, is a provincially maintained secondary highway in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. The route connects several mining and milling towns in Unorganized Algoma District, notably Searchmont
. The route is remote, ending at a mine access road 14.2 kilometres (8.8 mi) north of Highway 556, its southern terminus.
A former designation of Highway 532 travelled through Muskoka along the Parry Sound Colonization Road and was redesignated as Highway 141 in 1974. At that time, the present route was established following what was until then a segment of Highway 556. It has remained unchanged since then.
Ski Area. Just north of the town, the paved surface ends as the highway becomes a rough, hilly dirt road with blind corners. The highway passes through the hamlet of Wabos, and approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the northeast comes upon a left-hand turn where a sign indicates that "Highway 532 ends". The route is 14.2 kilometres (8.8 mi) long.
The original use of the Highway 532 designation was in southern Ontario. In 1956, this route was designated along the Parry Sound Colonization Road between Highway 69 at Hayes Corners and the former route of Highway 11 at Falkenburg, north of Bracebridge. When the Highway 11 bypass east of Bracebridge was completed and the old route decomissioned in 1958, Highway 532 was extended south through Bracebridge to Muskoka Falls.
The route remained this way until January 1, 1973, when the District Municipality of Muskoka was formed. Unlike most other secondary highways in the new municipality, the route was not decommissioned entirely, but rerouted southeast of Raymond. Instead of travelling south through Beatrice, Falkenburg and Bracebrige, the route continued east along what was Highway 516, passing through Utterson and ending at Highway 11.
This new routing was short-lived; in 1974, the entirety of the highway was upgraded to a King's Highway and redesignated Highway 141. Highway 532 assumed its current routing through Algoma that same year,
and has remained unchanged since then.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
!scope="col"|Location
!scope="col"|km
!scope="col"|Destinations
!scope="col"|Notes
|-
|rowspan="2"|Unorganized Algoma District
|0.0
|
|
|-
|14.2
|Christina Mine Road
|
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The route connects several mining and milling towns in Unorganized Algoma District, notably Searchmont
Searchmont, Ontario
Searchmont is a community with a local services board in the Canadian province of Ontario. The services board covers the unincorporated townships of Deroche, Gaudette, Hodgins and Shields in the Algoma District northeast of Sault Ste. Marie...
. The route is remote, ending at a mine access road 14.2 kilometres (8.8 mi) north of Highway 556, its southern terminus.
A former designation of Highway 532 travelled through Muskoka along the Parry Sound Colonization Road and was redesignated as Highway 141 in 1974. At that time, the present route was established following what was until then a segment of Highway 556. It has remained unchanged since then.
Route description
The southern terminus of the highway is at Highway 556, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of Searchmont. It is the only highway that passes through the community and connects with the entrance to the Searchmont ResortSearchmont Resort
Searchmont Resort is a ski resort located in the community of Searchmont, Ontario, Canada, and mainly caters to residents of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, which is 45 minutes away...
Ski Area. Just north of the town, the paved surface ends as the highway becomes a rough, hilly dirt road with blind corners. The highway passes through the hamlet of Wabos, and approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the northeast comes upon a left-hand turn where a sign indicates that "Highway 532 ends". The route is 14.2 kilometres (8.8 mi) long.
History
The current route of Highway 532 was first assumed by the Department of Highways in early 1956, along with several dozen other secondary highways. It was likely maintained as a development road prior to that. It formed the final 14.2 kilometres (8.8 mi) of Highway 556.The original use of the Highway 532 designation was in southern Ontario. In 1956, this route was designated along the Parry Sound Colonization Road between Highway 69 at Hayes Corners and the former route of Highway 11 at Falkenburg, north of Bracebridge. When the Highway 11 bypass east of Bracebridge was completed and the old route decomissioned in 1958, Highway 532 was extended south through Bracebridge to Muskoka Falls.
The route remained this way until January 1, 1973, when the District Municipality of Muskoka was formed. Unlike most other secondary highways in the new municipality, the route was not decommissioned entirely, but rerouted southeast of Raymond. Instead of travelling south through Beatrice, Falkenburg and Bracebrige, the route continued east along what was Highway 516, passing through Utterson and ending at Highway 11.
This new routing was short-lived; in 1974, the entirety of the highway was upgraded to a King's Highway and redesignated Highway 141. Highway 532 assumed its current routing through Algoma that same year,
and has remained unchanged since then.
Major intersections
The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 532. The entirety of the route is located within Algoma District.{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
!scope="col"|Location
!scope="col"|km
!scope="col"|Destinations
!scope="col"|Notes
|-
|rowspan="2"|Unorganized Algoma District
|0.0
|
|
|-
|14.2
|Christina Mine Road
|