Ontario. Dept. of Highways. Surveys Branch

• Surveys Branch

Based on a review of the Annual Reports of the Department of Public Highways, surveying was a core function of the Department from its inception. However, there is no mention of a distinct Surveying Branch until the 1930 report.

For the duration of the Branch's operations the head of the Surveys Branch reported to the Chief Engineer, who was the senior manager of the provincial highways system.

The Branch was headed by the Inspector of Surveys (1930-1952), then the Chief Engineer of Technical Surveys (1952-1954).

In 1942, the operations of the Branch were divided into two units: the Land Surveys unit, responsible for title and property acquisition surveying, and the Location and Engineering Surveys Unit, responsible for all other Branch functions.

This organization of the Branch continued until 1954, though in 1947 the units were renamed the Title Surveys Division and Engineering Surveys Division, respectively.

In 1950 the staff of the Chief Draughtsman's office were incorporated into the Surveys Branch. This group was subsequently referred to as the Cartography group or unit. As well as providing map and plan production and management services to the Branch, they were responsible for assessing building quantities in construction contracts.

In 1954 a re-organization within the Department resulted in the dissolution of the Surveys Branch. The Title Surveys Division was renamed Land Surveys and became part of the new Services Branch. The Engineering Surveys Division formed the core of the new Planning Branch.

The Surveys Branch was primarily responsible for conducting land surveys to support the acquisition of property for highways development and for the routing of new highways, and mapping proposed and actual highways routes.

Other functions included measuring and analyzing traffic volumes on provincial highways, assessing building estimates and designs for highway construction contracts, and conducting site surveys on behalf of other provincial agencies.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Annual Reports of the Dept. of Public Highways (1920-1931), Annual Reports of the Dept. of Highways (1931-1955)

Archivist(s):
Walz