List of numbered roads in Essex County

The numbered roads in Essex County account for 1,503 lane kilometres (933.9 mi) of roads in the Canadian province of Ontario. These roads[note 1] include King's Highways that are signed and maintained by the province, as well as county roads under the jurisdiction of the Essex County xxx. The third type of existing roadway in the county is locally maintained municipal roads, many of which are concession roads and sidelines; these are beyond the scope of this article.

Odd-numbered roads are generally north–south, with numbers increasing from west to east; even-numbered roads are generally east–west roads, with numbers increasing from north to south, with some exceptions. County roads are not signed within the city limits of Windsor. There are also several unrelated roads named "Malden Road". In 2002, the City of Windsor and the Town of Tecumseh swapped land with each other. Windsor gained land west of Banwell Road, including Windsor International Airport and Tecumseh Mall. Portions of several county roads within the land given to Windsor lost their designation as a result of this exchange.

The 43 numbered routes provide year-round access to the rural areas of the county, with roads within Windsor under a separate authority. The longest road in Essex County is County Road 20, which stretches 76.0 kilometres (47.2 mi) between Windsor and Leamington via the shoreline of the Detroit River and Lake Erie.

King's Highways

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There are 129.9 kilometres (80.7 mi) of provincially-maintained highways in Essex County, known as "provincial highways" or "King's Highways," a term adopted in 1930.[2][3] As in the rest of Ontario, the provincially maintained highways in Essex County are designated with a shield-shaped sign topped with a crown. The highway number is in the centre, with the word ONTARIO below. These signs are known as shields, but may be referred to as reassurance markers.[2] Provincially maintained highways generally have greater construction standards than municipally or locally maintained roads.[4]

County roads

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There are 40 numbered county roads in Essex County.[5] County roads are signed with a flowerpot-shaped sign, as are most regional and county roads in Ontario. The road number appears in the centre of the sign, with the word ESSEX above and the word COUNTY below. Like King's Highways, these signs are known as shields.[6]

Roads

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King's Highways

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King's Highways in Essex County[7][8]
Route Western/Southern Terminus Eastern/Northern Terminus Length Communities Comments
Highway 3
Ambassador Bridge in Windsor Highway 77 in Leamington
(continues east as Essex County Road 33)
51.1 km (31.8 mi)[8][Map 1] Windsor, Essex, Leamington
Highway 77
Highway 3 in Leamington
(continues south as Erie Street North)
Highway 401 west of Tilbury
(continues north as Essex County Road 35)
22.6 km (14.0 mi)[8][Map 2] Leamington, Comber
Highway 401
County Road 20 (Ojibway Parkway / E. C. Row Expressway) in Windsor East of County Road 42 (Mill Street West) in Tilbury (east of Exit 56) 56.2 km (34.9 mi)[Map 3] Windsor, Tilbury

County roads

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County roads are referred to on signage as Essex County Road X. The following table lists existing numbered roads maintained by the County of Essex.[9]

Essex County Roads[9]
Route Name(s) Western/Southern Terminus Eastern/Northern Terminus Length Communities Comments
km mi
Essex County Road 1
Wheatley Road, Queen Street, Baptiste Road Dead end at a factory plant parking lot just south of Wheatley CR 2 27.7[Map 4] 17.2 Wheatley, Tilbury Dual designation of Essex County Road 1, and Chatham-Kent Road 1.
Essex County Road 2
(west)
Old Tecumseh Road Windsor city limits CR 22 10.0[Map 5] 6.2 Tecumseh, St. Clair Beach, Puce, Emeryville, Lakeshore. Is split in two parts: From CR 21 to County Road 22 in Puce, and then from County Road 22 in Belle River to Essex-Kent County border (with CR 1). Formerly Highway 39 until 1961, when the Pike Creek Bypass/E.C. Row Expressway bypass of Pike Creek was finished, from Banwell Road to CR 2/22 Intersection. Former bridge approach is now used as a driveway/boat launch for the bordering house, next to the current roadway. Continues as Chatham-Kent Road 36.
Essex County Road 2
(east)
Tecumseh Road, Notre Dame Street, 2nd Concession Road Notre Dame Street (CR 22) Essex-Kent County border (with CR 1) 22.8[Map 6] 14.2 Emeryville, Belle River, Deerbrook, Pointe-Aux-Roches (all now a part of Lakeshore).
Essex County Road 3
Malden Road River Canard at CR 20 (15 km/9 mi) Windsor City limit 9.5[Map 7] 5.9 Lasalle, Windsor A north-south semi-rural road in Essex County. It travels from Highway 3 (Huron Church Road) in Windsor to its terminus with Essex County Road 20 in River Canard. Like several other nearby county roads, Malden Road was listed as a Windsor Suburban Road until 1998. There are other Malden Roads in Essex County. County Road 12 between County Road 11 (Walker Road) and County Road 34 (Talbot Road North) is named Malden Road. The road next north is named North Malden Road, while the road next south is named South Malden Road. Another Malden Road exists northwest in Maidstone between County Road 8 and Manning Road. An Old Malden Road exists between 14th Concession and 12th Concession/Walker Sideroad.
Essex County Road 5
(south)
Meloche Road CR 18 CR 16 1.2[Map 8] 0.75 Amherstburg Is currently discontinuous due to expansion of the Amherstburg quarry.
Essex County Road 5
(north)
Thomas Road Essex-Amherstburg Trail / Thomas Road CR 10 2.1[Map 9] 1.3
Essex County Road 6
Todd Lane CR 3 Highway 3 2.0[Map 10] 1.2 Lasalle Can be thought of as a continuation of County Road 40 and County Road 42
Essex County Road 7
Huron Church Line Highway 3 CR 9 (Howard Avenue) 6.4[Map 11] 4.0 Lasalle
Essex County Road 8
Townline Road CR 3 in River Canard CR 1 50.8[Map 12] 31.6 Lasalle, Amherstburg, Tecumseh, Essex, Lakeshore, Kingsville, Leamington Cuts across the mid-line of Essex County, almost directly half-way. Road heads due-east from River Canard in the west, straight towards Essex, and continuing all the way to the County boundary with Chatham-Kent. The road is appropriately named "Townline Road", as it acts as the boundary line with all of the current municipalities of Essex County. It also cuts Essex County nearly in half, as it is situated halfway between Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie.
Essex County Road 9
Howard Avenue (7th Concession Road) CR 20 Windsor City limits/Highway 3 Lasalle, Tecumseh Acts as a townline between Lasalle and Tecumseh.
Essex County Road 10
Middle Side Road CR 20 (Front Road) CR 11 (Walker Road) / Essex town limit Amherstburg, McGregor
Essex County Road 11
Walker Road Windsor City limit CR 20 Tecumseh, Essex, Amherstburg, McGregor, Harrow Close to the Chrysler Canada Greenway, acts as a townline between Amherstburg and Essex. Has a brief concurrency with CR 18.
Essex County Road 12
Malden Road (unrelated to CR 3) CR 11 (Walker Road) CR 23 (Arner Townline) Gesto, Essex
Essex County Road 13
Erie Street CR 20 in Harrow CR 50 in Colchester Harrow, Colchester, Essex Can be thought of as an extension of CR 11
Essex County Road 14
Mersea Road CR 27, just north of Cottam CR 1 Kingsville, Cottam, Albuna, Leamington
Essex County Road 15
Edgars Sideroad, Campbell Sideroad, South Malden Road, Marsh Road CR 8 CR 11, just north of Harrow Essex, Harrow, Gesto
Essex County Road 16
Alma Street CR 20 CR 5 Amherstburg One of Essex County's shortest county roads
Essex County Road 17
10th Concession Windsor, Tecumseh Windsor city limit at Highway 401 CR 46 Used to continue to CR 42, however, annexation by the City of Windsor, moved the terminus south to the new Windsor city limit on the north side of Highway 401.
Essex County Road 18
Pike Road, 7th Concession Road, Road 4, Mersea Road 4 20 Highway 77 Amherstburg, Essex, Kingsville, Leamington
Essex County Road 19
Manning Road Riverside Drive CR 8 Tecumseh, St. Clair Beach, Lakeshore, Maidstone, Essex One of the busiest roads in any category in Essex County.
Essex County Road 20
Front Road, Highway 18, Main Street, Seacliff Drive Morton Drive / Windsor city limit CR 33 69.3[Map 13] 43.1 Windsor, Lasalle, River Canard, Amherstburg, Essex, Harrow, Kingsville, Ruthven, Leamington Formerly Highway 18, continues as Ojibway Parkway in Windsor. It is also the Detroit River Heritage Parkway from intersection with E.C. Row Expressway to just south of Amherstburg. Former alignment for the River Canard bridge is now known as Sari Lane.
Essex County Road 21
Brighton Road CR 2 CR 42 St. Clair Beach, Tecumseh, Lakeshore
Essex County Road 22
E.C. Row Expressway, Highway 2, County Road 22, Tecumseh Road, Notre Dame Street Windsor city limit (just east of CR 43 (Banwell Road)) CR 42 (just south of Belle River) 19.7[Map 14] 12.2 Windsor, Tecumseh, St. Clair Beach, Puce, Emeryville, Belle River, Lakeshore Formerly Highway 39 from July 11, 1934, until 1970, when Highway 2 absorbed it entirely. Was re-routed along the Pike Creek Bypass portion of E.C. Row Expressway (section from Manning Road to CR 2/22 intersection) in 1961. One of the busiest roads in any category in Essex County. Was Highway 2 from 1970-1998.
Essex County Road 23
Arner Townline, Gosfield Townline, Fairview Avenue, Naylor Sideroad CR 50 CR 46 Arner, Essex, Lakeshore Acts as a townline between Essex and Kingsville
Essex County Road 25
Puce Road, 12-13 Sideroad CR 22 CR 46 Puce, Lakeshore
Essex County Road 27
Belle River Road, Cottam Sideroad CR 2 (Belle River) CR 23 Belle River, Woodslee, Cottam, Lakeshore, Kingsville, Essex.
Essex County Road 29
Division Road, South Talbot Road CR 34, south of Cottam CR 20 Kingsville, Cottam Main road leading from Highway 3 into downtown Kingsville.
Essex County Road 31
Albuna Townline, French Line Road, St. Joachim Road, West Ruscom River Road CR 2 in Deerbrook CR 20 in Ruthven 30.1[Map 15] 18.7 Kingsville, Leamington, Ruthven, St. Joachim, Lakeshore, Deerbrook The only county road to touch both lakes, Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, under a single designation.
Essex County Road 33
Leamington By-Pass, Bevel Line, Point Pelee Road Intersection with Highways 3 and 77 in Leamington Point Pelee National Park entrance 11.3[Map 16] 7.0 Leamington, Point Pelee Currently in two parts, from Highway 3/77 intersection, to CR 34, and again from CR 20 to Point Pelee Nat. Park. Leamington intends to connect the two via an "East End Arterial Road" to alleviate growth on the east side of town.
Essex County Road 34
Talbot Road, Highway 3, County Road 34 Highway 3, Maidstone CR 1, in Wheatley 47.0[Map 17] 29.2 Tecumseh, Maidstone, Lakeshore, Essex, Kingsville, Cottam, Ruthven, Leamington, Wheatley. Former alignment of Highway 3, until the Essex By-Pass (current Highway 3) was completed, in 1981. The Leamington By-Pass was completed in 1997, and Highway 3 was routed along that road, being truncated at Highway 77.
Essex County Road 35
Comber Sideroad Highway 77-Highway 401 interchange, just north of Comber CR 2 Pointe-Aux-Roches/Stoney Point, Comber
Essex County Road 37
Gracie Sideroad, Simpson Sideroad, Manery Road CR 20 CR 2 No towns of major significance
Essex County Road 39
Lighthouse Sideroad, 1st Concession, Tisdelle Drive CR 2 Lighthouse Cove Lighthouse Cove
Essex County Road 40
Sprucewood Avenue Windsor city limit CR 3 Windsor, Lasalle Can be thought of as a continuation of CR 6 and CR 42
Essex County Road 41
Meadows Road CR 20 CR 50 Amherstburg, Essex Can be thought of as a continuation of CR 9 (Howard Avenue)
Essex County Road 42
Division Road, County Road 42, Old Highway 2 Windsor city limit Tilbury 37.6[Map 18] 23.4 Windsor, Tecumseh, Lakeshore, Belle River, St. Joachim, Tilbury Formerly Highway 18 from June 11, 1930, until re-numbered Highway 2 on December 16, 1931, when it gained its current routing. CR 42 became Highway 2, until 1970 before being re-routed via CR 22 in Belle River. Fully turned back in 1998. Continues as Chatham-Kent Road 2.
Essex County Road 43
Banwell Road, 11th Concession Road E.C. Row Expressway CR 46 Windsor, Tecumseh Acts as the border between Windsor and Tecumseh
Essex County Road 43
(original)
Jefferson Road E.C. Row Expressway Division Road (CR 42) Windsor, Tecumseh In the early 1970s, Windsor Airport was expanded, and Pilette Road and Jefferson Road were both closed off to traffic, permanently. Jefferson is used as an auxiliary parking lot for Chrysler Canada's excess production at times.
Essex County Road 45
Union Avenue CR 20 CR 34 Kingsville, Ruthven, Union Formerly Highway 18B (1937–1953), then Highway 107 from 1953 onward, before being turned back in 1970. Temporarily re-transferred to provincial control as Highway 18 for a few months during a re-routing to bring people towards the newly opened Leamington By-Pass (Highway 3), before being turned back in its entirety in 1998, being reverted to CR 45.
Essex County Road 46
Provincial Road, Middle Road, County Road 46 Windsor city limit CR 1 45.4[Map 19] 28.2 Windsor, Tecumseh, Maidstone, Lakeshore, Woodslee, Ruscom Station, Comber Formerly Highway 2A (1929–1938), then Highway 98 until 1970. It was the longest provincial highway lost to downloading until 1997.
Essex County Road 48
Oak Street Intersection with CR 34 and Fraser Road Erie Street (Formerly part of Highway 77) Leamington Somewhat busy, travels through downtown Leamington, by the Heinz Canada Ketchup Factory. Has a 5-way traffic signal at its western terminus.
Essex County Road 50
Heritage Road CR 20 CR 20 Amherstburg, Colchester, Kingsville Formerly Highway 18A from April 13, 1938, until being turned back in 1979, southernmost highway in Canada. Acts as a loop to CR 20, former Highway 18. Hwy 18A was turned back in 1983. Was fully paved by 1952. One Rand McNally map lists CR 50 as continuing north past CR 20 and CR 18, ending at Alma Street.
Essex County Road 117
Lauzon Parkway Windsor city limit CR 42/CR 17 Intersection Windsor, Tecumseh Originally was a spur of CR 17 (Lauzon Road), now a separate county road in its own right. Now under the jurisdiction of the City of Windsor.
  Former Route

Windsor Suburban Roads

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Windsor Suburban Roads were a special designation given to certain county roads in Essex County that were close to the City of Windsor. The following roads had part or all of their routes listed as "Windsor Suburban Roads":

  • County Road 2
  • County Road 3
  • County Road 6
  • County Road 7
  • County Road 8
  • County Road 9
  • County Road 11
  • County Road 17
  • County Road 19
  • County Road 21
  • County Road 25
  • County Road 34
  • County Road 40
  • County Road 42
  • County Road 46
  • County Road 117

The roads were managed by the "Windsor Suburban Roads Commission" until 1998, when Windsor became a single-tier municipality. The Suburban Roads reverted to Essex County.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ In Ontario, all roads are legally known as highways. However, road is the more prevalent term for common use. The Ontario Municipal Act defines a highway as any road, street or bridge that is not a Provincial Highway.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "Ontario Municipal Act, ss. 1 (1)". Government of Ontario. Part III, Section 26. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Ontario Back Road Atlas [map]. MapArt. 2010. pp. 31–32, 43–44. ISBN 978-1-55198-226-7.
  3. ^ Thompson, Don W. (1969). Men and Meridians: The History of Surveying and Mapping in Canada. Vol. 3: 1917 to 1947. Canadian Government Publishing Centre. p. 141. ISBN 0-660-00359-7.
  4. ^ Ontario Provincial Standards for Roads and Public Works (Report). Vol. General & Construction Specifications. Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. November 30, 2009.
  5. ^ "Bruce County Maps". County of Bruce. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  6. ^ "Illustrated Sign and Signal Display Index". Ontario Traffic Manual. Vol. 1A. Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. July 2001. p. 82. ISBN 0-7794-1857-3. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
  7. ^ "County Roads". County of Essex. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (2016). "Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) counts". Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "County of Exsex Road Map". County of Essex. 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2024.

Route maps

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  1. ^ "Highway 3 in Essex County (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  2. ^ "Highway 77 in Essex County (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  3. ^ "Highway 401 in Essex County (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  4. ^ "Essex County Road 1 (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "Essex County Road 2 (west) (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "Essex County Road 2 (east) (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  7. ^ "Essex County Road 3 (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  8. ^ "Essex County Road 5 south (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "Essex County Road 5 north (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  10. ^ "Essex County Road 6 (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  11. ^ "Essex County Road 7 (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  12. ^ "Essex County Road 8 (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  13. ^ "Essex County Road 20 (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  14. ^ "Essex County Road 22 (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  15. ^ "Essex County Road 31 (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  16. ^ "Essex County Road 33 (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  17. ^ "Essex County Road 34 (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  18. ^ "Essex County Road 42 (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  19. ^ "Essex County Road 46 (length and route)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
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