Highway 124 (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
King's Highway 124, commonly known as Highway 124, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. The highway connects Highway 69
in Parry Sound
with Highway 11 in Sundridge
, a distance of 75.2 km (46.7 mi), including a 15.4 km (9.6 mi) concurrency with Highway 520. It is one of several highways in central Ontario to provide this connection through the Muskoka and Parry Sound region, and the northernmost King's Highway prior to Highway 17.
and Highway 17. The route is generally lightly travelled, primarily serving local communities along the corridor. Besides Highway 520, only one other provincial highway, Highway 510, is encountered along the route. There are no large communities along the route between Parry Sound and Sundridge, however there are several small communities including Waubamik, McKellar
, Dunchurch
and Ahmic Harbour. The village of Magnetawan
is also located a short distance south of the highway.
The route begins immediately north of Parry Sound at Exit 231 on Highway 400. From that interchange
, the highway progresses northwards through the Municipality of McDougall
, passing through the communities of Badger's Corners and Waubamik, where it encounters the Bunny Trail, before curving east and weaving around dozens of lakes. Curving north, the highway enters McKellar
, then the Municipality of Whitestone
. Within Whitestone, the highway wanders northeast through communities including Fairholme, Sunny Slope and Dunchurch before turning east and meeting Highway 520 near Whitestone Lake, which travels concurrently
with Highway 124 for 15.4 km (9.6 mi). It also passes between two reserves: the Shawanaga Lake Provincial Conservation Reserve, which lies northwest of Sunny Slope, and the Ahmic Forest and Rock Barrrens Provincial Conservation Reserve, which lies south of the highway as it passes from Whitestone into the Municipality of Magnetawan. The route wanders along the shore of Ahmic Lake
, passing the community of Ahmic Harbour and later crossing the Magnetawan River
immediately north of Knoepfli Falls.
The highway weaves through forests and exposed Canadian Shield
as it travels eastward. North of the town of Magnetawan, Highway 520 departs to the south to pass through the community. Shortly thereafter, Highway 124 meets Highway 510 at the Nipissing Colonization Road. The route travels in a straight line due east for several kilometres, dipping south momentarily then entering the community of Pearcley. After this, the highway enters Strong Township. It passes through the community of Strong
and continues generally eastward for several kilometres before ending at a new junction with Highway 11.
Although minor realignments over the years since have reduced that length to 75.2 km (46.7 mi), the highway has remained relatively unchanged since its designation.
along the present route of Highway 11 when the Sundridge Bypass is completed.
{| class=wikitable
!scope=col|Location
!scope=col|km
!scope=col|Destinations
!scope=col|Notes
|-
|Parry Sound
|0.0
|
|Exit 231 opened October 2010
|-
|Badger's Corners
|1.9
|Burnside Bridge Road
|
|-
|Waubamik
|10.4
|
|
|-
|McKellar
|19.4
|
|
|-
|Whitestone
|37.8
|
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|Magnetawan
|53.2
|
|
|-
|55.1
|
|Nipissing Colonization Road
|-
|Sundridge
|75.2
|
|
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 69
Ontario Highway 69
King's Highway 69, commonly referred to as Highway 69, is a major north–south highway in the central area of the Canadian province of Ontario, linking Highway 400 north of Parry Sound with Sudbury...
in Parry Sound
Parry Sound, Ontario
Parry Sound is a town in Central Ontario, Canada, located on Parry Sound on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay. Parry Sound is located south of Sudbury and north of Toronto. It is the seat of Parry Sound District, a popular cottage country region for Southern Ontario residents. It is also the...
with Highway 11 in Sundridge
Sundridge, Ontario
Sundridge is a village in central Ontario, Canada, approximately 75 km south of North Bay, Ontario along Highway 11, on the shore of Lake Bernard. Sundridge is a tourist destination in both winter and summer, with boating and snowmobiling providing the main attraction. Algonquin Provincial Park is...
, a distance of 75.2 km (46.7 mi), including a 15.4 km (9.6 mi) concurrency with Highway 520. It is one of several highways in central Ontario to provide this connection through the Muskoka and Parry Sound region, and the northernmost King's Highway prior to Highway 17.
Route description
Highway 124 is one of several highways connecting the Highway 11 and Highway 69/400 corridors between BarrieBarrie, Ontario
Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe, approximately 90 km north of Toronto. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent...
and Highway 17. The route is generally lightly travelled, primarily serving local communities along the corridor. Besides Highway 520, only one other provincial highway, Highway 510, is encountered along the route. There are no large communities along the route between Parry Sound and Sundridge, however there are several small communities including Waubamik, McKellar
McKellar, Ontario
McKellar is a township and census subdivision in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada. Per the 2001 Census, it has a population of 933.McKellar is named for Archibald McKellar , a member of the legislative assemblies for the province of Canada and Ontario .-Communities:McKellar is also the...
, Dunchurch
Dunchurch, Ontario
Dunchurch is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the municipality of Whitestone in Parry Sound District....
and Ahmic Harbour. The village of Magnetawan
Magnetawan, Ontario
Magnetawan is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, as well as the name of a community within the former Township of Chapman.Located in the Parry Sound District, the township had a population of 1,610 in the 2006 Canadian census....
is also located a short distance south of the highway.
The route begins immediately north of Parry Sound at Exit 231 on Highway 400. From that 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...
, the highway progresses northwards through the Municipality of McDougall
McDougall, Ontario
McDougall is a township in central Ontario, Canada, on the Parry Sound in the District of Parry Sound. It was named after William McDougall, one of the Fathers of Confederation....
, passing through the communities of Badger's Corners and Waubamik, where it encounters the Bunny Trail, before curving east and weaving around dozens of lakes. Curving north, the highway enters McKellar
McKellar
McKellar may refer to:* McKellar, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra* The southern branch of the Kaministiquia River delta, known as the "McKellar River"McKellar is also a surname, borne by:...
, then the Municipality of Whitestone
Whitestone, Ontario
Whitestone is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, as well as the name of a community within the township.The township, located in the Parry Sound District, had a population of 853 in the 2001 Canadian census.-History:...
. Within Whitestone, the highway wanders northeast through communities including Fairholme, Sunny Slope and Dunchurch before turning east and meeting Highway 520 near Whitestone Lake, which travels concurrently
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with Highway 124 for 15.4 km (9.6 mi). It also passes between two reserves: the Shawanaga Lake Provincial Conservation Reserve, which lies northwest of Sunny Slope, and the Ahmic Forest and Rock Barrrens Provincial Conservation Reserve, which lies south of the highway as it passes from Whitestone into the Municipality of Magnetawan. The route wanders along the shore of Ahmic Lake
Ahmic Lake
Ahmic Lake is part of the Magnetawan River waterway in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada. It is well marked for navigation. There are many spots where rock shoals extend into the lake then plunge to depths of 20 to 25 m . Much of the lake has steep shorelines with overhanging dead wood and...
, passing the community of Ahmic Harbour and later crossing the Magnetawan River
Magnetawan River
The Magnetawan River is a river in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada, which flows 175 km from Magnetawan Lake inside Algonquin Provincial Park to empty into Georgian Bay at the community of Britt on Byng Inlet....
immediately north of Knoepfli Falls.
The highway weaves through forests and exposed Canadian Shield
Canadian Shield
The Canadian Shield, also called the Laurentian Plateau, or Bouclier Canadien , is a vast geological shield covered by a thin layer of soil that forms the nucleus of the North American or Laurentia craton. It is an area mostly composed of igneous rock which relates to its long volcanic history...
as it travels eastward. North of the town of Magnetawan, Highway 520 departs to the south to pass through the community. Shortly thereafter, Highway 124 meets Highway 510 at the Nipissing Colonization Road. The route travels in a straight line due east for several kilometres, dipping south momentarily then entering the community of Pearcley. After this, the highway enters Strong Township. It passes through the community of Strong
Strong, Ontario
Strong is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, as well as the name of a community within the township. Located in the Parry Sound District, the township surrounds but does not include the village of Sundridge....
and continues generally eastward for several kilometres before ending at a new junction with Highway 11.
History
Highway 124 was first assumed by the Department of Highways on October 19, 1955, with a length of 79.4 km (49.3 mi) in length.Although minor realignments over the years since have reduced that length to 75.2 km (46.7 mi), the highway has remained relatively unchanged since its designation.
Future
By 2012, Highway 124 will be extended eastward approximately 14 km (8.7 mi) through Sundridge and South RiverSouth River, Ontario
South River is a village located on Highway 11 near Algonquin Park in the Parry Sound District of Ontario, Canada. It is about a half hour drive south of North Bay or a three hour drive north of Toronto. South River claims to be the second busiest entrance to the Algonquin Park...
along the present route of Highway 11 when the Sundridge Bypass is completed.
Major intersections
The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 124. The entirety of the highway is located within Parry Sound District.{| class=wikitable
!scope=col|Location
!scope=col|km
!scope=col|Destinations
!scope=col|Notes
|-
|Parry Sound
Parry Sound, Ontario
Parry Sound is a town in Central Ontario, Canada, located on Parry Sound on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay. Parry Sound is located south of Sudbury and north of Toronto. It is the seat of Parry Sound District, a popular cottage country region for Southern Ontario residents. It is also the...
|0.0
|
|Exit 231 opened October 2010
|-
|Badger's Corners
|1.9
|Burnside Bridge Road
|
|-
|Waubamik
|10.4
|
|
|-
|McKellar
McKellar, Ontario
McKellar is a township and census subdivision in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada. Per the 2001 Census, it has a population of 933.McKellar is named for Archibald McKellar , a member of the legislative assemblies for the province of Canada and Ontario .-Communities:McKellar is also the...
|19.4
|
|
|-
|Whitestone
|37.8
|
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|Magnetawan
|53.2
|
|
|-
|55.1
|
|Nipissing Colonization Road
|-
|Sundridge
Sundridge, Ontario
Sundridge is a village in central Ontario, Canada, approximately 75 km south of North Bay, Ontario along Highway 11, on the shore of Lake Bernard. Sundridge is a tourist destination in both winter and summer, with boating and snowmobiling providing the main attraction. Algonquin Provincial Park is...
|75.2
|
|