Ontario Highway 27 - History

History

Highway 27 was first designated between Barrie and Penetanguishine on September 14 1927. On March 28, 1934 it was extended south to Schomberg via county roads south of Barrie. On August 12, 1936, Browns Line and Eaton Road were designated as part of Highway 27, creating an isolated section of the route between Long Branch and Elder Mills (at the modern intersection of Rutherford Road). On the same date, the road between Schomberg and Kleinburg was designated as part of Highway 27, leaving a gap between Elder Mills and Kleinburg, through the Humber valley. This gap was closed beginning in late 1936. It was completed and opened to traffic in 1938, bringing Highway 27 to its peak length of 148 km (92 mi). In the mid-1950s, the Toronto Bypass was constructed between Highway 2A and the Queen Elizabeth Way, widening Highway 27 to a four lane freeway in the process. This section was reconstructed again throughout the 1960s into a twelve-lane collector-express system. In mid-1972, the section of Highway 27 south of Eglinton Avenue was re-designated as Browns Line and Highway 427.

On June 21, 1968, a new bypass north of Schomberg opened. Originally, northbound traffic had to turn east at Highway 9 then north at Leonard Road; a smooth curve is visible at this latter intersection, though it now forms the driveways of several residences. The new bypass made Highway 27 a through route at Highway 9. The remainder of the route, from Eglinton Avenue north to Penetanguishine, was decommissioned on January 1, 1998. It is still known as Highway 27 within Toronto, but is locally maintained. North of Toronto, it is known as Regional / County Road 27, depending on the jurisdiction.