Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Ontario and Marten Falls First Nation broke ground for the 184-kilometre Marten Falls Community Access Road. This all-season project is a key link in the proposed Ring of Fire mineral region road network, connecting the remote fly-in community to Ontario’s provincial highway system.
The Marten Falls Community Access Road is scheduled to open by November 2031, four years ahead of schedule. Crews will start clearing trees, setting up a work camp and establishing access to aggregate sites along the route. As the longest segment of the proposed 514-kilometre network of all-season roads, it will span 184 kilometres and include 35 bridges and culverts, connecting Marten Falls First Nation to the provincial highway network for the first time and improving year-round access to health care, social services and economic opportunities.
“The Marten Falls Community Access Road is a critical link in the Ring of Fire road network, connecting the people of Marten Falls to better services and good-paying local jobs while connecting the rest of Ontario to the incredible economic potential of the Ring of Fire. I want to thank Chief Bruce and all the community members for their partnership as we get shovels in the ground and build this road network five years ahead of schedule.” said Premier Doug Ford.
In November 2025, Ontario and Marten Falls First Nation signed a historic Community Partnership Agreement to advance community priority initiatives and critical infrastructure, supporting the community’s vision for improved connectivity, access to essential services and future economic opportunities, while ensuring that Marten Falls First Nation has a meaningful role in development, construction and maintenance of the road.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Marten Falls First Nation,” said Chief Achneepineskum. “The approval of the Community Access Road reflects the vision, determination and leadership of generations of our people who worked toward creating a permanent, year-round connection to the provincial highway network. This road is about more than transportation — it is about reducing the challenges of living in a remote community and creating new opportunities for our people. Reliable, year-round access will strengthen connections to health care, education, essential services, affordable goods and help accelerate community growth.”
Piinahzii Limited Partnership, a majority Indigenous-owned partnership formed by Marten Falls First Nation and Bird Construction, has signed an agreement to expand the scope of the partnership to include the Marten Falls Community Access Road. The amended agreement expands Piinahzii LP’s role beyond community infrastructure and readiness work, to include construction of the access road itself.
“This is an important step forward for Piinahzii and reflects the strength of the partnership we continue to build with Marten Falls First Nation,” said Teri McKibbon, president and CEO of Bird Construction Inc. “The Community Access Road is a significant community led project, and we are pleased to bring Bird’s infrastructure experience together with the leadership, knowledge and priorities of Marten Falls.”
Construction on the Marten Falls Community Access Road continues the momentum on Ontario’s accelerated plan to complete roads to the Ring of Fire. Under the accelerated plan, pending all necessary approvals and consultation:
- Construction on the Webequie Supply Road started in June 2026 and will be open by November 2030, four years ahead of schedule
- Upgrades to Anaconda and Painter Lake Roads started in June 2026, two years ahead of schedule
- The Northern Road Link is scheduled to start construction in spring 2028 and open by November 2031, five years ahead of schedule.
Featured image: (Government of Ontario)
