Highway 23 (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
King's Highway 23, commonly referred to as Highway 23, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. The route travels from Highway 7
east of Elginfield north to Highway 9 in Harriston
. The total length of Highway 23 is 97.7 kilometres (60.7 mi).
. It passes through the municipalities of Whalen Corners, Woodham, Kirkton, Mitchell
, Bornholm, Monkton, Newry
, Atwood
, Listowel and Gowanstown
.
Highway 23 proceeds through the counties of Middlesex
, Perth
and Wellington
. North of Middlesex County, from Whalen Corners, Highway 23 coincides with the border between Huron
and Perth counties until a point north of Kirkton.
and Highway 9.
As part of depression
relief work undertaken by the department during the early 1930s, Highway 23 was extended from Highway 8 to Highway 7 east of Elginfield on July 11, 1934.
Highway 23 remained unaltered between 1934 and 1998. On January 1, 1998, the section from the Highway 89 junction west of Palmerston to Highway 9 in Teviotdale was decommissioned, resulting in the northern terminus of Highway 23 becoming the western terminus of Highway 89.
In 2004, the segment of Highway 89 between this junction and Harriston was renumbered as Highway 23, resulting in the current routing.
The entirety of Highway 19 is located within Oxford County.
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 route travels from Highway 7
Ontario Highway 7
King's Highway 7, commonly referred to as Highway 7 and historically as the Northern Highway, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario...
east of Elginfield north to Highway 9 in Harriston
Harriston, Ontario
Harriston is a community in the town of Minto in Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. Although Harriston was formerly a village, it was amalgamated with Palmerston and Clifford to create Minto. The village has one public school , as well as shops and restaurants...
. The total length of Highway 23 is 97.7 kilometres (60.7 mi).
Route description
Highway 23 begins at Highway 7, east of Elginfield and travels north to Highway 9 in HarristonHarriston, Ontario
Harriston is a community in the town of Minto in Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. Although Harriston was formerly a village, it was amalgamated with Palmerston and Clifford to create Minto. The village has one public school , as well as shops and restaurants...
. It passes through the municipalities of Whalen Corners, Woodham, Kirkton, Mitchell
Mitchell, Ontario
Mitchell is a community in Perth County, Ontario, Canada. Mitchell is located at the intersection of Highways 8 and 23, 20 km west of Stratford, and 60 km north of London, in the municipality of West Perth.-History:...
, Bornholm, Monkton, Newry
Newry, Ontario
Newry, formerly Newry Station, is a community in Perth County, Ontario, Canada located on the intersection of County Roads 72 and 164. It was named after the eponymous community in County Down, Ireland....
, Atwood
Atwood, Ontario
Atwood is a small town located in Perth County, Ontario, Canada. Nearby centres include Listowel and Elmira. Campbell's soup factory was the main employer for the small town, which currently has between 500 and 1000 inhabitants. There are 3 local churches including the Atwood Presbyterian Church...
, Listowel and Gowanstown
Gowanstown, Ontario
Gowanstown is a community in Southwestern Ontario. It is a part of the town of North Perth in Perth County. It is located around the intersection of Perth Road 164 and Perth Line 88...
.
Highway 23 proceeds through the counties of Middlesex
Middlesex County, Ontario
Middlesex County is a primarily rural county in Southwestern Ontario. Landlocked, the county is bordered by Huron and Perth counties on the north, Oxford County on the east, Elgin County on the south, and Chatham-Kent and Lambton County on the west.The seat is the city of London, although the city...
, Perth
Perth County, Ontario
Perth County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is Stratford and is located in Southwestern Ontario, west of Toronto. It encompasses , 90% of which is classified as prime agricultural land...
and Wellington
Wellington County, Ontario
Wellington County is a county located in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The county seat is Guelph, a city which is politically independent, but Guelph's status as the seat means it houses the county's administrative offices...
. North of Middlesex County, from Whalen Corners, Highway 23 coincides with the border between Huron
Huron County, Ontario
Huron County is a census division and county of the province of Ontario, Canada. It is located on the southeast shore of its namesake, Lake Huron, in the southwest part of the province...
and Perth counties until a point north of Kirkton.
History
Highway 23 was first established on June 22, 1927, when the Department of Highways assumed the road from Mitchell to Teviotdale through Perth and Wellington counties, via Monkton, Listowel and Palmerston, connecting Highway 8Ontario Highway 8
Provincial Highway 8 is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Its total length is 138.5 km, though it was once much longer, running farther east from Hamilton to Niagara Falls, before the Queen Elizabeth Way replaced its role.- History :Highway 8 is one of the...
and Highway 9.
As part of depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
relief work undertaken by the department during the early 1930s, Highway 23 was extended from Highway 8 to Highway 7 east of Elginfield on July 11, 1934.
Highway 23 remained unaltered between 1934 and 1998. On January 1, 1998, the section from the Highway 89 junction west of Palmerston to Highway 9 in Teviotdale was decommissioned, resulting in the northern terminus of Highway 23 becoming the western terminus of Highway 89.
In 2004, the segment of Highway 89 between this junction and Harriston was renumbered as Highway 23, resulting in the current routing.
Major intersections
The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 23. In addition, it includes some minor junctions that are noted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.The entirety of Highway 19 is located within Oxford County.
| Division | Location | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex Middlesex County, Ontario Middlesex County is a primarily rural county in Southwestern Ontario. Landlocked, the county is bordered by Huron and Perth counties on the north, Oxford County on the east, Elgin County on the south, and Chatham-Kent and Lambton County on the west.The seat is the city of London, although the city... |
Lucan Biddulph | 0.0 | ||
| Perth Perth County, Ontario Perth County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is Stratford and is located in Southwestern Ontario, west of Toronto. It encompasses , 90% of which is classified as prime agricultural land... |
Russeldale | 26.4 | ||
| Mitchell Mitchell, Ontario Mitchell is a community in Perth County, Ontario, Canada. Mitchell is located at the intersection of Highways 8 and 23, 20 km west of Stratford, and 60 km north of London, in the municipality of West Perth.-History:... |
36.0 | Frank Street | Beginning of Mitchell Connecting Link Connecting Link The Connecting Link program is a provincial subsidy provided to municipalities to assist with road construction, maintenance and repairs in the Canadian province of Ontario. Roads which are designated as connecting links form the portions of provincial highways through built-up communities which... agreement |
|
| 37.0 | Beginning of concurrency with Highway 8 | |||
| 37.2 | End of concurrency with Highway 8 | |||
| 38.4 | Frances Street | End of Mitchell Connecting Link agreement | ||
| Bornholm | 45.6 | |||
| Monkton | 54.3 | |||
| Newry Newry, Ontario Newry, formerly Newry Station, is a community in Perth County, Ontario, Canada located on the intersection of County Roads 72 and 164. It was named after the eponymous community in County Down, Ireland.... |
63.4 | |||
| Listowel | 73.6 | Formerly Highway 86; beginning of Listowel Connecting Link agreement | ||
| 76.0 | David Street | End of Listowel Connecting Link agreement | ||
| Gowanstown | 80.1 | |||
| Palmerston Palmerston, Ontario Palmerston is an unincorporated community located at the south end of the town of Minto in northern part of Wellington County in southern Ontario, Canada.- History :... |
88.0 | / | ||
| Wellington Wellington County, Ontario Wellington County is a county located in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The county seat is Guelph, a city which is politically independent, but Guelph's status as the seat means it houses the county's administrative offices... |
||||
| Minto Minto, Ontario Minto is a town in midwestern Ontario, Canada, on the Maitland River in Wellington County. Minto is the eastern terminus of Highway 9. It is named for Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto; 8th Governor General of Canada.... |
96.1 | |||
| Harriston Harriston, Ontario Harriston is a community in the town of Minto in Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. Although Harriston was formerly a village, it was amalgamated with Palmerston and Clifford to create Minto. The village has one public school , as well as shops and restaurants... |
97.7 | Continues as Highway 89  |