Numbered highways in Canada
Numbered highways in Canada are split by province, and a majority are maintained by their province or territory transportation department. All highways in Canada are numbered except for three in the Northwest Territories, one in Alberta, one in Ontario, and one in Quebec. Ontario's 7000 series are not marked with their highway number but have been assigned one by the Ministry of Transportation. A number of highways in all provinces are better known locally by their name rather than their number. Some highways have additional letters added to their number: A is typically an alternate route, B is typically a business route, and other letters are used for bypass (truck) routes, connector routes, scenic routes, and spur routes. The territory of Nunavut has no highways.
Classifications
This is a breakdown of the classifications of highways in each province, and an example shield of each classification where available.
Trans-Canada
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The Trans-Canada Highway crosses all provinces of Canada.
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Alberta
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All provincial highways in Alberta are 'Primary Highways'. They are divided into two series, and sub-series.
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British Columbia
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Varying between west-east and south-north routes, route numbers in British Columbia span from 1-118, except for Hwy 395 which is a counterpart of US 395. The 400 series highways were renumbered in 1973.
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Manitoba
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Provincial Trunk Highways (PTH) in Manitoba are divided into two series.
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New Brunswick
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Provincial highways in New Brunswick are divided into three series.
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Newfoundland and Labrador
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Provincial highways in Newfoundland and Labrador are divided into three series.
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Nova Scotia
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Provincial highways in Nova Scotia are divided into five series.
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Ontario
Provincial highways (the King's Highway) in Ontario are divided into four classes:
- Hwy 2-148, 400-427, QEW — primary highways
- Hwy 2-148 — intercity (ex:Highway 11) usually with at-grade intersections
- 400-427 — 400-series freeways and limited-access highways
- The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) is a de facto part of the 400-series, and is given a numerical designation of 451 in some documents, although this number is not posted on the road itself
- Hwy 500-699 — secondary highways (ex:Highway 502)
- Hwy 800-813 — tertiary highways (ex:Highway 808)
- 7000-series — resource & industrial roads (unmarked) or short stubs connecting numbered highways
Prince Edward Island
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Provincial highways in Prince Edward Island are divided into three series.
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Quebec
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Provincial highways in Quebec are divided into three classes. Odd numbers refer to routes that are generally perpendicular to the Saint Lawrence River. Even numbers refer to routes that are generally parallel to the Saint Lawrence River.
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Saskatchewan
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Provincial highways in Saskatchewan are divided into three series, and sub-series.
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Northwest Territories
There are currently ten territorial highways in the Northwest Territories. All are named and numbered 1-10. There was also the now-closed Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road, replaced by the Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway, which extended the Dempster Highway (Highway 8). The former Tlicho winter road system, replaced by the Tłı̨chǫ All-Season Road, extending from the Yellowknife Highway. Other roads include the Mackenzie Valley winter road system that extends Northwest Territories Highway 1, the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road, and the Dettah Ice Road extending from Yellowknife to the community of Dettah.
Nunavut
There are a number of roads and highways in Nunavut; none are yet numbered.
Yukon
There are currently fourteen territorial highways in Yukon. All fourteen are named and numbered 1-11, 14-15, & 37.