Highway 77 (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
King's Highway 77, also known as Highway 77, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. One of three highways within Essex County
, Highway 77 serves to interconnect Highway 3 near Leamington
with Highway 401 near Tilbury
. Prior to 1998, the highway extended south into Leamington, ending at the former routing of Highway 3 and Highway 18
. This section was turned over to Essex County and renamed Erie Street. The speed limit on Highway 77 is 80 km/h (49.7 mph) in most places, dropping to 50 km/h in built-up areas. It is patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police
.
along the route. In addition, Lake Erie
and Lake Huron
are both a short distance from Highway 77.
Highway 77 begins at the Leamington Bypass, north of the city of the same name. The western section of Highway 3 shares its eastern terminus with Highway 77;
from there it travels west towards Windsor
. Several greenhouses are visible near the southern end of the highway, a small percentage of the 610 hectares (1,507.3 acre) of land occupied by them in the Leamington area.
Point Pelee National Park
, the southernmost point in Canada, is also nearby.
The highway runs 11.5 km (7.1 mi) north through Mount Carmel and Blytheswood
to the village of Staples before turning to the east. It continues in this direction for 2 km (1.2 mi) before returning to its northward orientation. North of there, the highway passes to the east of the Comber and District Historical Society Museum. The museum, which focuses on the history of agriculture, was established in the former Maple Grove Schoolhouse, which was built in 1894.
Pressing north to Highway 401, it passes Middle Road (once Highway 98) in the centre of Comber.
Highway 401 provides access to Windsor and the United States
to the west, and to the town of Tilbury and city of Chatham–Kent
to the east. To the north, the road continues as Essex County Road 35 to Stoney Point on the shores of Lake Huron.
Traffic levels along Highway 77 vary, but are generally low. The busiest section of the highway lies at the southern end between Leamington and Blythesville, with an average of 6,000 vehicles travelling it per day. North of that, traffic drops considerably to 3,000 vehicles, but increases approaching Comber and Highway 401 to around 4,500.
and is now known as Elgin County Road 103.
The current Highway 77 was designated between Leamington and Highway 401 on April 1, 1963. The southern end followed present-day Erie Street south through the city to Talbot Road. At the time, Highway 3 travelled along that road; Highway 77 continued south of Talbot Road as Highway 18.
In early December 1999, the Leamington Bypass of Highway 3 opened.
The southern terminus of Highway 77 was subsequently truncated by 1.7 km (1.1 mi) to end at the new bypass.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
!scope="col"|Location
!scope="col"|km
!scope="col"|Destinations
!scope="col"|Notes
|-
|Leamington
|0.0
|
|Leamington Bypass
|-
|Blytheswood
|6.0
|Mersea Concession Road 8
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|8.8
|Mersea Concession Road 10
|
|-
|Staples
|11.7
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|Comber
|21.0
|
|
|-
|
|22.6
|
|
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....
. One of three highways within Essex County
Essex County, Ontario
Essex County is a county and census division located in Southwestern Ontario and covers an area at the southernmost tip of Canada. The administrative seat is Essex...
, Highway 77 serves to interconnect Highway 3 near Leamington
Leamington, Ontario
Leamington is a municipality in Essex County, southern Ontario, Canada, and has a population of 31,113. It includes Point Pelee, the southernmost point of mainland Canada. It has a large H. J. Heinz Company factory and is known as the "Tomato Capital of Canada", with 4 km² of this crop in the...
with Highway 401 near Tilbury
Tilbury, Ontario
Tilbury is a community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada. It is located between Chatham and Windsor on Highway 401.-History:...
. Prior to 1998, the highway extended south into Leamington, ending at the former routing of Highway 3 and Highway 18
Ontario Highway 18
King's Highway 18, commonly referred to as Highway 18 was the longest highway in Essex County, Ontario, and travelled through the most communities. Today, it is known as County Road 20...
. This section was turned over to Essex County and renamed Erie Street. The speed limit on Highway 77 is 80 km/h (49.7 mph) in most places, dropping to 50 km/h in built-up areas. It is patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
.
Route description
Due to the flat topography of Essex County, the land use surrounding Highway 77 is almost entirely agricultural. Soil conditions in Essex are ideal for farming, and as a result very few natural areas can be found in the county. Many streams have been diverted to irrigate the endless farmland to either side of the highway. Relief from the plain is provided only by the few hamletsHamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
along the route. In addition, Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
and 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...
are both a short distance from Highway 77.
Highway 77 begins at the Leamington Bypass, north of the city of the same name. The western section of Highway 3 shares its eastern terminus with Highway 77;
from there it travels west towards Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
. Several greenhouses are visible near the southern end of the highway, a small percentage of the 610 hectares (1,507.3 acre) of land occupied by them in the Leamington area.
Point Pelee National Park
Point Pelee National Park
-See also:*National Parks of Canada*List of National Parks of Canada*Long Point-External links:**...
, the southernmost point in Canada, is also nearby.
The highway runs 11.5 km (7.1 mi) north through Mount Carmel and Blytheswood
Blytheswood, Ontario
Blytheswood is a small community located in the township of Leamington , Essex County, in southwestern Ontario, Canada. The village is at the intersection of Ontario Highway 77 and Concession 8. Blytheswood's more recognized businesses are the Jones Popcorn family farm and Setterington's farm...
to the village of Staples before turning to the east. It continues in this direction for 2 km (1.2 mi) before returning to its northward orientation. North of there, the highway passes to the east of the Comber and District Historical Society Museum. The museum, which focuses on the history of agriculture, was established in the former Maple Grove Schoolhouse, which was built in 1894.
Pressing north to Highway 401, it passes Middle Road (once Highway 98) in the centre of Comber.
Highway 401 provides access to Windsor and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to the west, and to the town of Tilbury and city of Chatham–Kent
Chatham–Kent
Chatham–Kent is a unitary authority in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Mostly rural, its centres of population are Blenheim, Chatham, Dresden, Ridgetown, Tilbury and Wallaceburg. Modern Chatham–Kent was created in 1998 by the merger of Kent County and its municipalities.- History :The former city of...
to the east. To the north, the road continues as Essex County Road 35 to Stoney Point on the shores of Lake Huron.
Traffic levels along Highway 77 vary, but are generally low. The busiest section of the highway lies at the southern end between Leamington and Blythesville, with an average of 6,000 vehicles travelling it per day. North of that, traffic drops considerably to 3,000 vehicles, but increases approaching Comber and Highway 401 to around 4,500.
History
The Highway 77 designation was first applied on August 5, 1936 to a road running southeast from Rodney, Ontario to Highway 3 at New Glasgow. On December 5, 1957, the highway was transferred to Elgin CountyElgin County, Ontario
Elgin County is a county and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario with a current population of approximately 46,000. The county seat is St. Thomas.It consists of:*Town of Aylmer*Municipality of Bayham*Municipality of Central Elgin...
and is now known as Elgin County Road 103.
The current Highway 77 was designated between Leamington and Highway 401 on April 1, 1963. The southern end followed present-day Erie Street south through the city to Talbot Road. At the time, Highway 3 travelled along that road; Highway 77 continued south of Talbot Road as Highway 18.
In early December 1999, the Leamington Bypass of Highway 3 opened.
The southern terminus of Highway 77 was subsequently truncated by 1.7 km (1.1 mi) to end at the new bypass.
Major intersections
The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 77. In addition, it includes some minor junctions that are noted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. The entirety of Highway 77 is located within Essex County.{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
!scope="col"|Location
!scope="col"|km
!scope="col"|Destinations
!scope="col"|Notes
|-
|Leamington
Leamington, Ontario
Leamington is a municipality in Essex County, southern Ontario, Canada, and has a population of 31,113. It includes Point Pelee, the southernmost point of mainland Canada. It has a large H. J. Heinz Company factory and is known as the "Tomato Capital of Canada", with 4 km² of this crop in the...
|0.0
|
|Leamington Bypass
|-
|Blytheswood
Blytheswood, Ontario
Blytheswood is a small community located in the township of Leamington , Essex County, in southwestern Ontario, Canada. The village is at the intersection of Ontario Highway 77 and Concession 8. Blytheswood's more recognized businesses are the Jones Popcorn family farm and Setterington's farm...
|6.0
|Mersea Concession Road 8
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|8.8
|Mersea Concession Road 10
|
|-
|Staples
|11.7
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|Comber
|21.0
|
|
|-
|
|22.6
|
|
See also
- List of numbered roads in Elgin County
- List of numbered roads in Essex County