Highway 93 (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
King's Highway 93, commonly referred to as Highway 93, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. Located entirely within Simcoe County
, the highway extends for 23.9 kilometres (14.9 mi) from an interchange
with Highway 400 in Springwater
, just south of the community of Hillsdale, to an intersection with Highway 12 at the town limits of Midland
.
The route follows the Penetanguishene Road, an early colonization road which served to connect Lake Simcoe
with Georgian Bay
, thus providing an overland route from Lake Huron
to Lake Ontario
via Yonge Street
.
Prior to 1997, the highway was fully twice as long, extending 15 kilometres further south to meet Highway 11
and Highway 400A
at Crown Hill, and seven kilometres further north to Penetanguishene. Because the southern leg was only two kilometres east of Highway 400, and the northern segment carried primarily municipal traffic in Penetanguishene and Midland, both segments were transferred to Simcoe County that year. Both segments continue to be known as Simcoe County Road 93.
(east of Barrie
), to the townsite and Naval establishment at Penetanguishene; it was the first road constructed in what is now Simcoe County.
For several years the Holland River
and Lake Simcoe
provided the only means of transportation; Holland Landing
was the northern terminus of Yonge Street
. The military route to Georgian Bay
prior to, and during the war of 1812
, crossed Lake Simcoe to the head of Kempenfelt Bay, then by the Nine Mile Portage to Willow Creek and the Nottawasaga River
. The Penetanguishene Military Post was started before the war, however, lacking a suitable overland transport route, passage from York
to Lake Huron
continued via the Nottawasaga. The Penetanguishene Road replaced this route when the Naval Establishment was opened in 1817.
The route for the road was surveyed in 1808 by Samuel Wilmot. After the British captured Fort Michilimackinac in the War of 1812, the need to supply the captured fort created a need for ships to be built on Lake Huron, which in turn meant that an effective supply route needed to be cut. The decision was made to cut the road in November 1814 by General Gordon Drummond
. It was completed before the following spring. Following the war, the surrounding land was purchased from the Chippeway and the road opened for settlement. It was treated specially by the crown land office in that the strategic value of the route to the naval base led to the road being preferred for military settlers. Large numbers of soldiers who had served in Canada or in other parts throughout the British Empire were settled on the road and in the vicinity of Penetanguishene. Pensioners from Chelsea Hospital could be sent here. Many of the commuted pensioners were reduced to a state of extreme poverty.
In 1824, construction began on a new road connecting Yonge Street at Holland Landing with the Pentanguishene Road. Completed in 1827 to Kempenfelt Bay, it was also called Penetanguishene Road. This portion of the Penetanguishene Road became a part of Highway 11 in 1920.
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....
. Located entirely within Simcoe County
Simcoe County, Ontario
Simcoe County is located in central portion of Southern Ontario. The County is situated just north of the Greater Toronto Area stretching from the shores of Lake Simcoe in the east to Georgian Bay in the west...
, the highway extends for 23.9 kilometres (14.9 mi) from an interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
with Highway 400 in Springwater
Springwater, Ontario
Springwater is a township in central Ontario, Canada, in Simcoe County near Barrie. It includes the former townships of Flos and Vespra. Springwater is the County seat of Simcoe.-Communities:...
, just south of the community of Hillsdale, to an intersection with Highway 12 at the town limits of Midland
Midland, Ontario
Midland is a town located on Georgian Bay in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.Situated at the southern end of Georgian Bay's 30,000 Islands, Midland is the economic centre of the region, with a 125-bed hospital and a local airport. It is the main town of the southern Georgian Bay area...
.
The route follows the Penetanguishene Road, an early colonization road which served to connect Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe is a lake in Southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly in the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the lake was called Ouentironk by the Huron natives...
with Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
, thus providing an overland route from Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
to Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
via Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
.
Prior to 1997, the highway was fully twice as long, extending 15 kilometres further south to meet Highway 11
Highway 11 (Ontario)
King's Highway 11 is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. At , it is the second longest highway in the province after Highway 17. Highway 11 begins at Highway 400 in Barrie, and arches through northern Ontario, around Lake Superior, to the Ontario–Minnesota border...
and Highway 400A
Highway 400A (Ontario)
King's Highway 400A, once known as the Highway 400 Extension, is an unsigned 400-series highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The short freeway stub connects Highway 400 with Highway 11 and Simcoe County Road 93, formerly Highway 93...
at Crown Hill, and seven kilometres further north to Penetanguishene. Because the southern leg was only two kilometres east of Highway 400, and the northern segment carried primarily municipal traffic in Penetanguishene and Midland, both segments were transferred to Simcoe County that year. Both segments continue to be known as Simcoe County Road 93.
History
Highway 93, as well as its former southern extension to Barrie, follows the Penetanguishene Road. This road was built between 1814-15, from the north side of Kempenfelt BayKempenfelt Bay
Kempenfelt Bay is a 14.5 km long bay that leads into the Canadian city of Barrie, Ontario. It is as deep as 30 m in places, and is connected to the larger Lake Simcoe...
(east of Barrie
Barrie
Barrie may refer to:* Barrie, city in Ontario, Canada* Barrie , Canadian federal electoral district* Barrie , provincial electoral district* Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, former Canadian electoral district...
), to the townsite and Naval establishment at Penetanguishene; it was the first road constructed in what is now Simcoe County.
For several years the Holland River
Holland River
The Holland River is a river in Ontario, Canada that drains the Holland River watershed into Cook's Bay, the southern extremity of Lake Simcoe. It is named after Captain Samuel Holland, , Dutch born first Surveyor General of British North America. The river flows generally north, and its...
and Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe is a lake in Southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly in the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the lake was called Ouentironk by the Huron natives...
provided the only means of transportation; Holland Landing
Holland Landing, Ontario
Holland Landing is a village in the town of East Gwillimbury, located in the northern part of the Regional Municipality of York, in south-central Ontario, Canada. Its major road is Yonge Street and the village has bus service by GO Transit and York Region Transit...
was the northern terminus of Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
. The military route to Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
prior to, and during the war of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, crossed Lake Simcoe to the head of Kempenfelt Bay, then by the Nine Mile Portage to Willow Creek and the Nottawasaga River
Nottawasaga River
The Nottawasaga River is a river in southern Ontario, Canada. Its headwaters are located on the Niagara Escarpment and Oak Ridges Moraine. It flows through the Minesing Swamp, recognized as a wetland of international significance , and empties into Nottawasaga Bay, an inlet of Georgian Bay, at...
. The Penetanguishene Military Post was started before the war, however, lacking a suitable overland transport route, passage from York
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
to Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
continued via the Nottawasaga. The Penetanguishene Road replaced this route when the Naval Establishment was opened in 1817.
The route for the road was surveyed in 1808 by Samuel Wilmot. After the British captured Fort Michilimackinac in the War of 1812, the need to supply the captured fort created a need for ships to be built on Lake Huron, which in turn meant that an effective supply route needed to be cut. The decision was made to cut the road in November 1814 by General Gordon Drummond
Gordon Drummond
Sir Gordon Drummond, GCB was the first Canadian-born officer to command the military and the civil government of Canada...
. It was completed before the following spring. Following the war, the surrounding land was purchased from the Chippeway and the road opened for settlement. It was treated specially by the crown land office in that the strategic value of the route to the naval base led to the road being preferred for military settlers. Large numbers of soldiers who had served in Canada or in other parts throughout the British Empire were settled on the road and in the vicinity of Penetanguishene. Pensioners from Chelsea Hospital could be sent here. Many of the commuted pensioners were reduced to a state of extreme poverty.
In 1824, construction began on a new road connecting Yonge Street at Holland Landing with the Pentanguishene Road. Completed in 1827 to Kempenfelt Bay, it was also called Penetanguishene Road. This portion of the Penetanguishene Road became a part of Highway 11 in 1920.