:Thousand Islands Parkway
{{short description|Scenic parkway in Ontario}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox road
| province = ON
| route = Thousand Islands
| alternate_name = St. Lawrence River Road
| type = Parkway
| map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=290|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Thousand Islands Parkway}}}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = Thousand Islands Parkway highlighted in red
| map_alt = Map of the Thousand Islands Parkway
| maint = the St. Lawrence Parks Commission
| length_km = 39.1
| length_ref = {{Google maps
| title = Thousand Islands Parkway – Length and Route
| url = https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/44.3440606,-76.1528175/44.5200793,-75.7843409/@44.4187327,-76.1076283,63041m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!4m13!1m10!3m4!1m2!1d-76.022974!2d44.3602835!3s0x4ccd472b8d64f839:0xf579fe4af530d065!3m4!1m2!1d-75.9621683!2d44.3697956!3s0x4ccd3f5b72589bcf:0x1c3f8945b56774cb!1m0!3e0
| access-date = January 19, 2021}}
| history = Opened in 1938
Numbered Highway{{nbsp}}2S in 1948
Renumbered Highway{{nbsp}}401 in 1952
Renumbered Highway{{nbsp}}2S in 1967
Decommissioned September{{nbsp}}8, 1970
| terminus_a = {{jcon|Hwy|401|dir=west}} in Gananoque
| terminus_b = {{jcon|Hwy|401|dir=east}} near Butternut Bay
| junction = {{jcon|Hwy|137}} to Thousand Islands Bridge to the United States
| previous_type = Hwy
| previous_route = 2
| next_type = Hwy
| next_route = 3
| browse = {{ON former|previous=2A}}
}}
The Thousand Islands Parkway (often written as 1000 Islands Parkway) is a scenic parkway in the Canadian province of Ontario. It extends easterly from an interchange with Highway 401 in Gananoque for approximately {{convert|40|km}} to rejoin Highway{{nbsp}}401 near the community of Butternut Bay, west of Brockville. The parkway follows the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, and was formerly designated Highway{{nbsp}}2S (S for Scenic) until 1970. It passes through the communities of Gray's Beach, Halsteads Bay, Ivy Lea, Darlingside, Rockport, Narrows, La Rue Mills and Mallorytown Landing, as well as providing access to the three inland properties of the Thousand Islands National Park. Highway 137, which meets the parkway near its midpoint, provides access to the Interstate 81 in New York via the Thousand Islands Bridge.
The Thousand Islands Parkway was constructed as a divided highway during the late 1930s, alongside the Thousand Islands Bridge, which opened in 1938. Originally known as the St. Lawrence River Road, the parkway became part of Highway{{nbsp}}401 when the 400-series highway system was established in 1952. However by that time numerous properties and tourism had been established which made the parkway difficult to upgrade to a full freeway, so in 1968 Highway{{nbsp}}401 was rerouted along a new alignment (the Thousand Islands Bypass) north of the existing parkway. The Highway{{nbsp}}2S designation returned between 1967 and 1970, after which jurisdiction over the parkway was transferred to the St. Lawrence Parks Commission. The northern carriageway of the parkway was never paved, and was only in use by vehicles between 1938 and 1951. Evidence of its former use can be seen today in the wide right-of-way; the unused westbound lanes now serve as a recreational trail and twin bridges span two locations along the parkway.
Route description
File:1000 Islands Pkwy mosbo6.jpg
File:1000 Islands Parkway - Ontario (7888214452).jpg
The Thousand Islands Parkway is a scenic route along the St. Lawrence River between Gananoque and Brockville through the rugged terrain of the Frontenac Arch, a protrusion of the Canadian Shield southward into New York state. In this area, the soil is underlain by layers of Paleozoic limestone and a granite bedrock. The granite often extends above the ground surface as large rock outcroppings. The Thousand Islands Parkway was part of the original alignment of Highway{{nbsp}}401. However, because of the residential properties and the scenic nature of the parkway, a new inland route known as the Thousand Islands Bypass was constructed for Highway{{nbsp}}401 through the mid-1960s. A recreational trail follows the right-of-way of the westbound carriageway, which was never completed.{{cite web
| title = TVO On The Road: The Thousand Islands Parkway
| first = Michael | last = Lehan
| date = February 8, 2016
| publisher = TVOntario
| url = https://www.tvo.org/article/tvo-on-the-road-the-thousand-islands-parkway
| access-date = January 20, 2021}}
The Thousand Islands Parkway begins at a split with Highway{{nbsp}}401 on the outskirts of Gananoque. There is no access from westbound Highway{{nbsp}}401 to the parkway nor from westbound on the parkway to eastbound Highway{{nbsp}}401. However, immediately east of the split, both highways interchange with the sole remaining portion of Highway 2 under provincial jurisdiction.{{cite map
| title = Ontario Back Road Atlas
| year = 2010
| publisher = Peter Heiler
| cartography = MapArt
| page = 37
| section = A59–C62
| isbn = 978-1-55198-226-7}}
East of this point the three diverge into the Frontenac Arch. It meets Highway{{nbsp}}137 at an interchange at the parkways midpoint; the Ontario approach to the Thousand Islands Bridge which continues as Interstate 81 south of the Canada–United States border. The parkway continues northeast, serving the riverside communities of Darlingside, Rockport, Narrows, La Rue Mills and Mallorytown Landing. At Butternut Bay, the Thousand Islands Parkway merges into the eastbound lanes of Highway{{nbsp}}401 and a left-hand exit provides access to the parkway from westbound Highway{{nbsp}}401.
The three inland properties of Thousand Islands National Park are located on the Thousand Islands Parkway: Landon Bay, Mallorytown Landing and Jones Creek.{{cite web
| title = Thousand Islands National Park – Getting Here
| website = Parks Canada
| url = https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/1000/visit/directions
| access-date = January 27, 2021}}
History
File:Thousand Islands Parkway, 1944.png
The idea for a scenic parkway along the shoreline of the St. Lawrence between Gananoque and Brockville was first proposed by George Fulford, a local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) elected in the 1934 Ontario general election to represent Leeds.{{cite news
| title = Building the 1000 Island Parkway 1937 – 1947
| first = Grant | last = Haskin
| publisher = Leeds and 1000 Islands Historical Society
| pages = 10–13
| issue = 31 – Spring/Summer 2009
| url = https://www.ltihistoricalsociety.org/31SpringSummer2009.pdf
| access-date = January 20, 2021}}
By 1935, with early construction underway on the Thousand Islands Bridge,{{cite news
| title = Early Start Likely on Wellesley Id. Bridge
| work = The Ottawa Citizen
| date = September 17, 1934
| page = 1
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68075900/start-of-construction-on-thousand/
| access-date = January 20, 2021}}
Fulford had convinced the incoming Minister of Public Works and Highways, Thomas McQuesten, of the merits of a scenic route for tourism and as a depression relief project.
McQuesten, who was seeking to build a trans-provincial divided highway, decided the river road would be the ideal route through the rough terrain between Gananoque and Brockville.{{cite web
|title = Highway 401 – The Story
|first = John G. | last = Shragge
|year = 2007
|url = http://www.roadscholar.on.ca/lateststory.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080328001341/http://www.roadscholar.on.ca/lateststory.html
|archive-date = March 28, 2008
|access-date = February 12, 2010}}
On April{{nbsp}}29, 1937, The Ontario Department of Highways (DHO), predecessor to the modern Ministry of Transportation, formally announced the building of the St. Lawrence River Road.{{cite news
| title = Building the 1000 Island Parkway – Part Two
| first = Bill | last = Boulton
| publisher = Leeds and 1000 Islands Historical Society
| pages = 10–13
| issue = 32 – Fall/Winter 2009
| url = https://www.ltihistoricalsociety.org/32fallwinter2009.pdf
| access-date = January 20, 2021}}
It was built under two separate contracts. Work on the first, awarded to Campbell Construction to build the section between Gananoque and Ivy Lea, began the week of June{{nbsp}}7, 1937,{{cite news
| title = Construction Started on New Scenic Highway
| work = The Ottawa Citizen
| date = June 12, 1937
| page = 4
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67995818/construction-begins-on-tip/
| access-date = January 19, 2021}}
while work on the second, awarded to Standard Paving Company to build the section between Ivy Lea and Butternut Bay, began the week of September{{nbsp}}12. Standard Paving was already widening {{convert|6|km|abbr=on}} of Highway{{nbsp}}2 between Butternut Bay and Brockville at the time.{{cite news
| title = To Construct Road Near Brockville
| work = The Ottawa Journal
| date = September 3, 1937
| page = 9
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67995220/tip-campbell-construction/
| access-date = January 19, 2021}}
On August{{nbsp}}18, 1938, the Thousand Islands Bridge was opened, with an attendance of over 50,000 people. Prime Minister Mackenzie King and President Franklin D. Roosevelt both presided over the ceremonies.{{cite news
| title = More Than 50,000 Persons Present at Bridge Dedication Ceremony
| work = Ottawa Evening Citizen
| date = August 19, 1938
| page = 15
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68115219/more-than-50000-persons-present-at/
| access-date = January 19, 2021}}
In preparation, the {{convert|13.8|km|abbr=on}} portion of the parkway west of Ivy Lea was quickly gravelled to provide access to the new bridge.{{cite news
| title = Panorama of Islands from Span
| work = The Windsor Daily Star, Second Section
| date = August 17, 1938
| volume = 40
| issue = 144
| pages = 1, 6
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68124250/thousand-islands-parkway-opening-with/
| access-date = January 20, 2021}}
Only the {{convert|2.7|km|abbr=on}} between the Ivy Lea and the bridge approach remained open following the ceremonies, however; traffic to and from the bridge accessed Highway{{nbsp}}2 via what is now Fitzsimmons Road. A section between Mallorytown Landing and Butternut Bay was opened in October 1938 as a two-lane gravel road with a temporary bridge crossing Jones Creek.{{cite news
| title = New Scenic Highway May Open in October
| work = The Ottawa Citizen
| date = September 16, 1938
| page = 11
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67995708/tip-to-open-in-october-with-gravel/
| access-date = January 19, 2021}}
Elsewhere, construction resumed on blasting rock and grading the route for several more years.{{cite news
| title = Paving Near Brockville
| work = The Ottawa Citizen
| date = July 13, 1939
| page = 9
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67995384/paving-tip-near-brockville/
| access-date = January 19, 2021}}
A contract to build the bridges at Jones Creek was awarded on May{{nbsp}}25, 1940,{{cite news
| title = Award Bridge Contract
| work = The Ottawa Citizen
| date = May 25, 1940
| page = 21
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68135146/jones-creek-bridge-thousand-islands/
| access-date = January 20, 2021}}
and completed by the end of the year.{{cite news
| title = Resume Work on Bridges West of Brockville Soon
| work = The Ottawa Citizen
| date = September 4, 1940
| page = 16
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67995545/work-remaining-on-jones-creek-bridge-of/
| access-date = January 19, 2021}}
The bridges at Landon Bay meanwhile, were completed in late October 1940.{{cite news
| title = New Bridge Completed
| work = The Ottawa Citizen
| date = October 26, 1940
| page = 3
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68134582/halstead-bay-bridges-opened/
| access-date = January 20, 2021}}
In 1941, the St. Lawrence River Road was completed and opened to traffic from Gananoque to Brockville, though it remained unpaved.{{cite report
| title = Annual Report
| publisher = Department of Highways
| date = March 31, 1942
| pages = 20
| via = Internet Archive
| url = https://archive.org/details/n04ontariosession75ontauoft/page/n723/mode/2up
| access-date = January 21, 2021}}{{cite map
| title = Ontario Road Map
| cartography = D. Barclay
| publisher = Department of Highways
| year = 1942
| sections = S6–T7}}
Labour and material shortages during World War II resulted in road construction being deferred for several years.
Following the war, the south lanes of the road were paved between Gananoque and Rockport in 1946.{{cite report
| title = Annual Report
| publisher = Department of Highways
| date = March 31, 1947
| pages = 26, 45
| via = Internet Archive
| url = https://archive.org/details/n04ontariosession80ontauoft/page/n195/mode/2up
| access-date = January 21, 2021}}
The unpaved north lanes were opened to travel beginning in 1946.{{cite map
| title = Ontario Road Map
| cartography = J.W. Whitelaw
| publisher = Department of Highways
| year = 1946
| sections = N39–O40}}
They remained in service until 1951, when they were closed to traffic;{{cite map
| title = Ontario Road Map
| cartography = C.P. Robins
| publisher = Department of Highways
| year = 1951
| sections = Q40–R41}}{{cite map
| title = Ontario Road Map
| cartography = C.P. Robins
| publisher = Department of Highways
| year = 1952
| sections = Q40–R41}}
they would not reopen.{{cite news
| title = Super Road to Cross Ontario
| agency = Associated Press
| work = Detroit Free Press
| date = October 11, 1954
| page = 3
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68106820/detroit-free-press/
| access-date = January 20, 2021}}{{cite news
| title = May Start 401 Route This Winter
| work = The Ottawa Journal
| date = September 18, 1963
| page = 21
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68213026/may-start-401-route-this-winter/
| access-date = January 22, 2021}}{{cite news
| title = 10 Days{{nbsp}}... or Aug. 15{{nbsp}}... or{{nbsp}}... Well, 2-Lane Stretch on 401 Open Soon
| work = The Windsor Star
| date = July 30, 1965
| pages = 3, 12
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68107352/10-days-or-aug-15-or-well/
| access-date = January 20, 2021}}
File:ON 2S La Rue Mills, 1949.png in 1949|alt=A black and white photograph shows a single paved road with a painted centreline. Vehicles can be seen driving the road in the distance. Trees abut against the right side of the road, while the left side features a wide landscaped clearing before the tree line.]]
By 1948, the St. Lawrence River Road, or "Scenic Highway", had been assigned the route number 2S, with the "S" for "scenic", and the remainder of the south lanes between Rockport and Butternut Bay had been paved.{{cite news
| title = A Forest of Highway Signs
| work = The Ottawa Journal
| date = September 21, 1948
| page = 4
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67987952/ontario-highway-2s/
| access-date = January 19, 2021}}{{cite map
| title = Ontario Road Map
| cartography = C.P. Robins
| publisher = Department of Highways
| year = 1948
| sections = Q40–R41}}
In July 1952 (possibly July 1, the same day Highway{{nbsp}}400 was numbered),{{refn|group=lower-alpha|name="MarchReport"|The Department of Highways Fiscal Report for the year ending March 31, 1952, claims "Controlled Access Highways nos. 400 and 401 were signed". However, all other sources claim July.{{sfn|Shragge|Bagnato|1984|p=89}}}}
Highway{{nbsp}}2S was designated as part of the new Highway{{nbsp}}401.{{sfn|Shragge|Bagnato|1984|pp=89, 93}}{{cite news
| title = Tasteless Names For Ontario Roads
| first = Charles J. |last = Woodsworth
| publisher = Southam Newspapers
| work = The Evening Citizen
| location = Ottawa
| date = October 17, 1952
| page = 40
| volume = 110
| issue = 93
| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8wAxAAAAIBAJ&pg=3146%2C3392246
| access-date = February 9, 2010 }}
For the next 18{{nbsp}}years, Highway{{nbsp}}401 travelled along the scenic river road. Initially it merely bypassed Highway{{nbsp}}2; it would not see extensions west of Gananoque and east of Butternut Bay until 1959.{{cite book
| title = '401' The Macdonald–Cartier Freeway
| publisher = Ministry of Transportation and Communications
| location = Toronto
| year = 1972
| page = 9
| url = https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_frontier/4746799921/in/dateposted-public/
| access-date = January 22, 2021}}
That year saw the south lanes of the parkway rebuilt and marked as a proper two-lane undivided highway.
As originally envisioned by McQuesten, the trans-provincial freeway would follow the scenic highway.{{cite news
| title = Ontario Plans to End 3 Road 'Bottlenecks'
| work = The Windsor Star
| date = April 3, 1952
| pages = 25
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68216247/ontario-plans-to-end-3-road/
| access-date = January 22, 2021}}
However, in the decades since, numerous properties and a tourist industry were established. James Auld, MPP for Leeds and the Minister of Tourism and Information, joined local residents to persuade the DHO to construct an inland bypass. The DHO agreed, stating that it would cost less to build a new freeway than to upgrade the parkway.{{cite news
| title = Last Stretch of 401 Job
| work = The Ottawa Citizen
| date = March 18, 1964
| page = 3
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68216125/last-stretch-of-401-job/
| access-date = January 22, 2021}}
Construction of the Thousand Islands Bypass began in 1965, with work proceeding east from Gananoque. The Thousand Islands Parkway was the final two-lane segment of Highway{{nbsp}}401.{{cite news
| title = $158,797,000 Bill Total for Highways Program
| work = The Windsor Star
| date = April 30, 1965
| page = 2
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68232898/158797000-bill-total-for-highways/
| access-date = January 22, 2021}}
A portion was opened on September{{nbsp}}1, 1967, from Gananoque to Highway{{nbsp}}137, which was itself built south to the parkway at the same time. The Highway{{nbsp}}401 designation was applied along this new route, while the bypassed portion of the parkway was redesignated as Highway{{nbsp}}2S.{{cite map
| title = Ontario Road Map
| cartography = Photogrammetry Division
| publisher = Department of Highways
| year = 1968
| sections = S29–T30}}
Despite the expected influx of traffic from the United States for Expo 67 in Montreal, the DHO opted to build the portion east of Ivy Lea after the centennial celebrations.{{cite news
| title = Must All Ontario Roads Lead From Toronto?
| work = The Ottawa Journal
| date = November 10, 1966
| page = 6
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68236174/must-all-ontario-roads-lead-from/
| access-date = January 22, 2021}}
The remainder of the bypass was opened to traffic on October{{nbsp}}11, 1968, at which point the entire parkway once again became Highway{{nbsp}}2S.{{cite map
| title = Ontario Road Map
| cartography = Photogrammetry Office
| publisher = Department of Highways
| year = 1969
| sections = S29–T30}}
This designation would also only last for just under two years. On September{{nbsp}}8, 1970, the DHO transferred jurisdiction over the parkway to the St. Lawrence Parks Commission;{{cite report
| title = Annual Report
| publisher = Department of Highways
| date = March 31, 1971
| section = Appendix 17 – Schedule of Reversions and Transfers of Sections
| page = 153}}{{cite journal
| title = Revised Regulations of Ontario, Regulation 908
| year = 1980
| publisher = Government of Ontario
| via = Internet Archive
| url = https://archive.org/details/v8revisedregulat1980ontauoft
| access-date = January 19, 2021}}
it has since been known only as the Thousand Islands Parkway.
This name was first brought forward to the DHO in 1954 by the Thousand Island–Rideau Lakes Association.{{cite news
| title = Name Suggested
| work = The Windsor Star
| date = November 26, 1954
| page = 24
| via = Newspapers.com
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67987089/asking-province-to-name-401-as-thousand/
| access-date = January 19, 2021}}
Major intersections
{{ONinttop|maint=St. Lawrence Parks Commission|length_ref=|division=Leeds and Grenville|division_ref=}}
{{ONint
| location_special = Gananoque
| lspan = 2
| km = 0.0
| road = {{jcon|Hwy|401|dir=west|city=Kingston}}
| notes = Westbound entrance and eastbound exit; Highway 401 exit 647
}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: right;" | 1.0
! scope="row" style="text-align: right;" | 0.6
| {{jct|state=ON|Hwy|2|to2=to|ON|401|dir2=east|city1=Gananoque}}
| Provides access to eastbound and from westbound Highway{{nbsp}}401
{{ONint
| location = Ivy Lea
| km = 15.2
| road = {{jct|state=ON|Hwy|137|to2=to|I|81|city1=Hill Island|city2=Thousand Islands Bridge}} to U.S.
| notes =
}}
{{ONint
| location = Mallorytown Landing
| km = 29.4
| road = {{jcon|LG|5|dir=north|Mallorytown Road|town=Mallorytown}}
| notes =
}}
{{ONint
| location = Butternut Bay
| km = 39.1
| road = {{jcon|Hwy|401|dir=east|city=Brockville|city2=Cornwall}}
| notes = Eastbound entrance and westbound exit; Highway 401 exit 685
}}
{{jctbtm}}
= Explanatory notes =
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book
| title = From Footpaths to Freeways
| last1 = Shragge
| first1 = John
| last2 = Bagnato
| first2 = Sharon
| publisher = Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Historical Committee
| location = Toronto
| year = 1984
| isbn = 978-0-7743-9388-1}}
External links
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
- [https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/44.3440606,-76.1528175/44.5200793,-75.7843409/@44.4187327,-76.1076283,63041m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!4m13!1m10!3m4!1m2!1d-76.022974!2d44.3602835!3s0x4ccd472b8d64f839:0xf579fe4af530d065!3m4!1m2!1d-75.9621683!2d44.3697956!3s0x4ccd3f5b72589bcf:0x1c3f8945b56774cb!1m0!3e0 Thousand Islands Parkway – Length and Route]
{{Ontario King's Highways}}
Category:Geography of Leeds and Grenville United Counties