Highway 72 (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
King's Highway 72, commonly referred to as Highway 72, is a provincially maintained highway in the northern half of the Canadian
province of Ontario
. The highway connects Highway 17 in Dinorwic
with the town of Sioux Lookout
, where there are connections with Highway 516 towards Savant Lake
and Highway 642 towards Silver Dollar
.
Highway 72 was built as a trunk route by 1920, and became a provincial highway in 1937. It has remained largely unchanged since then, aside from the reconstruction and realignment of the Frog Rapids bridge, and the renumbering of the fork towards Hudson as Highway 664. The length of the highway is 68.5 km (42.6 mi), the entirety of which is situated in Kenora District. There are no significant settlements between its endpoints.
. The route begins at Highway 17, on the western edge of Dinorwic. From there it follows an old routing of Highway 17 along the northern edge of the village, but eventually turns to the north into the wilderness. Between this point and south of the Frog Rapids Narrows, where Highway 664 intersects the route, the highways passes through a remote forested region dotted with lakes and muskeg
; there is almost no human habitation.
After crossing the Frog Rapids Narrows, the highway enters Sioux Lookout. It zig-zags through the town, crossing the old Grand Trunk Railroad, now a Canadian National Railway
line, next to a large rail depot. It exits Sioux Narrows, ending at an intersection with the Ed Arlano Bypass, Highway 516 and Highway 642 just east of the town.
shortly after 1900; roads would not reach the remote area until 1920.
The road connecting Sioux Lookout and Hudson with the Ignace–Dryden Road was initially under the upkeep of the Department of Northern Development. On April 1, 1937, that department was merged into the Department of Highways (DHO), after which the provincial highway network was expanded into northern Ontario
.
Shortly after the merger, the DHO began to assume highways throughout northern Ontario. On October 6, 1937, Highway 72 was established,
connecting Highway 17 with both Sioux Lookout and Hudson. On the 1938–39 Official Ontario Road Map, the distance from Dinorwic to Sioux Lookout is listed as 48 miles (77.2 km), and from Dinorwic to Hudson as 53 miles (85.3 km).
This routing remained in place until at least 1953.
By 1954, however, the branch leading to Hudson was renumbered as Highway 116.
Highway 72 has, aside from minor realignments, remained unchanged since then.
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 highway connects Highway 17 in Dinorwic
Dinorwic, Ontario
Dinorwic is an unincorporated settlement in northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is situated on Highway 17 at the junction of Highway 72.The nearest major community is Dryden, where hospital service is provided....
with the town of Sioux Lookout
Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Sioux Lookout is a town in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It has a population of 5,336 and an elevation of 1280 ft / 390 m. Known locally as the "Hub of the North", it is serviced by the Sioux Lookout Airport, Highway 72, and the Sioux Lookout railway station...
, where there are connections with Highway 516 towards Savant Lake
Savant Lake, Ontario
Savant Lake is an unincorporated place and community in Unorganized Thunder Bay District in northwestern Ontario, Canada.-Transportation:Savant Lake is on Ontario Highway 599, roughly halfway between Ignace and Pickle Lake...
and Highway 642 towards Silver Dollar
Silver Dollar, Ontario
Silver Dollar is a community in the Kenora District of Ontario, located at the junction of Highway 599 and Highway 642....
.
Highway 72 was built as a trunk route by 1920, and became a provincial highway in 1937. It has remained largely unchanged since then, aside from the reconstruction and realignment of the Frog Rapids bridge, and the renumbering of the fork towards Hudson as Highway 664. The length of the highway is 68.5 km (42.6 mi), the entirety of which is situated in Kenora District. There are no significant settlements between its endpoints.
Route description
Highway 72 is a 68.5 km (42.6 mi) route which serves to connect Sioux Narrows with the Trans-Canada HighwayTrans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
. The route begins at Highway 17, on the western edge of Dinorwic. From there it follows an old routing of Highway 17 along the northern edge of the village, but eventually turns to the north into the wilderness. Between this point and south of the Frog Rapids Narrows, where Highway 664 intersects the route, the highways passes through a remote forested region dotted with lakes and muskeg
Muskeg
Muskeg is an acidic soil type common in Arctic and boreal areas, although it is found in other northern climates as well. Muskeg is approximately synonymous with bogland but muskeg is the standard term in Western Canada and Alaska, while 'bog' is common elsewhere. The term is of Cree origin, maskek...
; there is almost no human habitation.
After crossing the Frog Rapids Narrows, the highway enters Sioux Lookout. It zig-zags through the town, crossing the old Grand Trunk Railroad, now a Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
line, next to a large rail depot. It exits Sioux Narrows, ending at an intersection with the Ed Arlano Bypass, Highway 516 and Highway 642 just east of the town.
History
Sioux Lookout and Hudson were both originally accessible only by rail and water when they were established as stops on the Grand Trunk RailwayGrand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
shortly after 1900; roads would not reach the remote area until 1920.
The road connecting Sioux Lookout and Hudson with the Ignace–Dryden Road was initially under the upkeep of the Department of Northern Development. On April 1, 1937, that department was merged into the Department of Highways (DHO), after which the provincial highway network was expanded into northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
.
Shortly after the merger, the DHO began to assume highways throughout northern Ontario. On October 6, 1937, Highway 72 was established,
connecting Highway 17 with both Sioux Lookout and Hudson. On the 1938–39 Official Ontario Road Map, the distance from Dinorwic to Sioux Lookout is listed as 48 miles (77.2 km), and from Dinorwic to Hudson as 53 miles (85.3 km).
This routing remained in place until at least 1953.
By 1954, however, the branch leading to Hudson was renumbered as Highway 116.
Highway 72 has, aside from minor realignments, remained unchanged since then.