Highway 137 (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
King's Highway 137, also known as Highway 137, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian
province of Ontario
which serves to connect the northern end of Interstate 81
in New York
with Highway 401, via the Canadian span of the Thousand Islands Bridge
. While a road connected to the international bridge when it opened in 1938, it was not designated as a King's Highway until 1965.
in addition to its terminus at Highway 401. The section on Hill Island is a two-lane highway with limited development and two at-grade intersections, which will be twinned and likely converted to an interchange when the bridges are twinned. Connecting the two segments are the first bridge between the Ontario mainland and Hill Island, which is a toll bridge
in the southbound direction. (Northbound tolls are paid on the New York mainland.) The highway ends at the U.S. border, where it continues as I-81.
.
The new border crossing connected with the Scenic Highway, known today as the Thousand Islands Parkway, but it was not numbered. For 27 years, Highway 137 was known simply as the Ivy Lea Bridge Approach. Later, the number only appeared on certain maps, but not any actual highway signage. In recent years, signs have been installed along Highway 401 which include the Highway 137 designation and appropriate shields.
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....
which serves to connect the northern end of Interstate 81
Interstate 81 in New York
Interstate 81 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Dandridge, Tennessee, to the Canada – United States border at Wellesley Island in New York. In the U.S. state of New York, I-81 extends from the Pennsylvania state line southeast of Binghamton to the Canadian border...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with Highway 401, via the Canadian span of the Thousand Islands Bridge
Thousand Islands Bridge
The Thousand Islands Bridge is an international bridge system over the Saint Lawrence River connecting northern New York in the United States with southeastern Ontario in Canada. Constructed in 1937, with additions in 1959, the bridges span the United States-Canada border in the middle of the...
. While a road connected to the international bridge when it opened in 1938, it was not designated as a King's Highway until 1965.
Route description
The mainland section is a four-lane freeway with an interchange at the Thousand Islands ParkwayThousand Islands Parkway
The Thousand Islands Parkway is a parkway in the Canadian province of Ontario, which extends easterly from an interchange with Highway 401 in Gananoque for approximately to the community of Butternut Bay, in Elizabethtown-Kitley, west of Brockville....
in addition to its terminus at Highway 401. The section on Hill Island is a two-lane highway with limited development and two at-grade intersections, which will be twinned and likely converted to an interchange when the bridges are twinned. Connecting the two segments are the first bridge between the Ontario mainland and Hill Island, which is a toll bridge
Toll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
in the southbound direction. (Northbound tolls are paid on the New York mainland.) The highway ends at the U.S. border, where it continues as I-81.
History
The Thousand Islands Bridge system was opened ceremoniously on August 18, 1938 by Prime Minister William Mackenzie King and President Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
.
The new border crossing connected with the Scenic Highway, known today as the Thousand Islands Parkway, but it was not numbered. For 27 years, Highway 137 was known simply as the Ivy Lea Bridge Approach. Later, the number only appeared on certain maps, but not any actual highway signage. In recent years, signs have been installed along Highway 401 which include the Highway 137 designation and appropriate shields.
Exit list
The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 137. The entirety of the highway is located within Leeds and Grenville United Counties.| Location | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thousand Islands Bridge Thousand Islands Bridge The Thousand Islands Bridge is an international bridge system over the Saint Lawrence River connecting northern New York in the United States with southeastern Ontario in Canada. Constructed in 1937, with additions in 1959, the bridges span the United States-Canada border in the middle of the... over the St. Lawrence River continues in New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... as Interstate 81 Interstate 81 Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...  |
|||
| Hill Island | 0.0 | Canada–United States border | |
| Leeds and the Thousand Islands | 2.7 | Thousand Islands Parkway Thousand Islands Parkway The Thousand Islands Parkway is a parkway in the Canadian province of Ontario, which extends easterly from an interchange with Highway 401 in Gananoque for approximately to the community of Butternut Bay, in Elizabethtown-Kitley, west of Brockville.... |
Beginning of divided freeway |
| 4.3 | , Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario... , Montreal Montreal Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America... |
Exit 661 | |