Highway 811 (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
Tertiary Highway 811, commonly referred to as Highway 811, is the longest of Ontario
's tertiary highways, and the highest posted route number in the province. The route encounters no named roads along its route, aside from its eastern terminus at Secondary Highway 527. It extends 59 kilometres (36.7 mi) westward into the wilderness, ending at a bridge over the Weaver River. The route was designated in 1976 with the intention of extending it further west, but this extension has yet to be constructed.
and Armstrong
, Highway 811 is Ontario's highest numbered route, but also one of its most remote. Aside from its beginning, the highway connects with no named roads along its length. The route begins approximately midway along Highway 527, 114 kilometres (70.8 mi) north of Ontario Highway 17 and 122.2 kilometres (75.9 mi) south of Armstrong,
It zig-zags northwestward for 59 kilometres (36.7 mi) towards Savant Lake
, although as of 2011 the road reaches less than halfway there. It crosses several small rivers as it travels through the Boreal Forest before ending at a bridge over the Weaver River, south of Obonga-Ottertooth Provincial Park.
The road is gravel for its entire length. There are no communities along Highway 811; it is almost exclusively used for wilderness travel or forest operations.
with Highway 599 near Savant Lake. A forest road that branched off from Highway 527 was assumed as Highway 811 in 1976. However, the planned connection to Highway 599 has yet to occur, and an 83 kilometres (51.6 mi) gap separates Savant Lake from the Weaver River.
Despite no connection materializing over the past 35 years, and no plans to construct that connection presently, Highway 811 remains a signed and maintained provincial highway.
The highway is located entirely within Thunder Bay District
.
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....
's tertiary highways, and the highest posted route number in the province. The route encounters no named roads along its route, aside from its eastern terminus at Secondary Highway 527. It extends 59 kilometres (36.7 mi) westward into the wilderness, ending at a bridge over the Weaver River. The route was designated in 1976 with the intention of extending it further west, but this extension has yet to be constructed.
Route description
Branching off from Secondary Highway 527, roughly halfway between Thunder BayThunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
and Armstrong
Armstrong, Thunder Bay District, Ontario
Armstrong is a community and divisional point on the Canadian National Railway in the unorganized portion of Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The Whitesand First Nation's Armstrong Settlement is coterminous to this community....
, Highway 811 is Ontario's highest numbered route, but also one of its most remote. Aside from its beginning, the highway connects with no named roads along its length. The route begins approximately midway along Highway 527, 114 kilometres (70.8 mi) north of Ontario Highway 17 and 122.2 kilometres (75.9 mi) south of Armstrong,
It zig-zags northwestward for 59 kilometres (36.7 mi) 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...
, although as of 2011 the road reaches less than halfway there. It crosses several small rivers as it travels through the Boreal Forest before ending at a bridge over the Weaver River, south of Obonga-Ottertooth Provincial Park.
The road is gravel for its entire length. There are no communities along Highway 811; it is almost exclusively used for wilderness travel or forest operations.
History
As part of the 1974 Ontario Highway Capital Construction Program, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications studied the potential benefit of a road connecting Highway 527 southwest of Lake NipigonLake Nipigon
Lake Nipigon is the largest lake entirely within the boundaries of the Canadian province of Ontario . It is sometimes described as the sixth Great Lake. Lying 260 metres above sea level, the lake drains into the Nipigon River and thence into Nipigon Bay of Lake Superior...
with Highway 599 near Savant Lake. A forest road that branched off from Highway 527 was assumed as Highway 811 in 1976. However, the planned connection to Highway 599 has yet to occur, and an 83 kilometres (51.6 mi) gap separates Savant Lake from the Weaver River.
Despite no connection materializing over the past 35 years, and no plans to construct that connection presently, Highway 811 remains a signed and maintained provincial highway.
Major intersections
Highway 811 does not cross or meet with any named routes, aside from Highway 527, along its route. However, the Ministry of Transportation references the distances along the remote highway using bridges and culverts.The highway is located entirely within Thunder Bay District
Thunder Bay District
Thunder Bay District is a district and census division in Northwestern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. The district seat is Thunder Bay....
.
| Location | km | Feature(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unorganized Thunder Bay | 0.0 | , Armstrong Armstrong, Thunder Bay District, Ontario Armstrong is a community and divisional point on the Canadian National Railway in the unorganized portion of Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The Whitesand First Nation's Armstrong Settlement is coterminous to this community.... |
|
| 16.8 | Gull River culvert | ||
| 30.9 | Mooseland River Bridge | ||
| 43.6 | Grew River culvert | ||
| 59.0 | Weaver River Bridge | Listed as a "temporary bridge", as it has been since at least 1989. |