The Ontario government has awarded a contract to widen Highway 11/17 from two to four lanes between Thunder Bay and Nipigon, which also includes building two new bridges over the Pearl River.
“Awarding this contract for this critical stretch of Highway 11/17 is an exciting milestone that will get shovels in the ground this year,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation.
“In our region people travel long distances to reach neighbouring communities, whether it be to go to work, visit family or access services. Our Government is committed to ensuring they can get to their destination safely and with ease,” said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario and MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North. “I am happy to see this project moving forward with the support of both the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario. This is a critical project which will create jobs, reduce commute times and increase road safety.”
Teranorth Construction and Engineering will begin twinning the highway in the fall of this year with an expected completion date by 2026. The contract, valued at $107 million, includes $77 million in provincial funding and $30 million in federal funding. The project will create or sustain approximately 750 direct or indirect construction jobs and includes:
- Twinning 14.4 kilometres of Highway 11/17 starting east of Highway 587 easterly towards Nipigon
- Two new bridges over Pearl River (one eastbound and one westbound)
- New alignment of Highway 11/17 south of the existing highway at Pearl River
- Realignment of municipal road connections at West Loon Road/Mirror Lake Road, East Loon Road, Silver Lake Road and Road No. 5 South
- Two new concrete culverts at Oyster Creek
- Drainage improvements
- New lighting at new municipal road intersections and four to two lane transitions
“Since day one, getting Northern Ontario moving safely has been a key priority for our government,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. “The improvements announced today will make Highway 11/17 safer, more reliable, and create local construction jobs.”
Once complete, 72 kilometres out of a total 106 kilometres on Highway 11/17 between Thunder Bay and Nipigon will be a four-lane highway.
Featured image: (Twitter: @GregRickford)
