THUNDER BAY – “Improving highways across Northwestern Ontario is creating jobs and contributing to growth in our local economy. Our government is continuing to invest in rehabilitating transportation infrastructure across the North, allowing Northerners better access to social and economic opportunities and supporting the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario,” stated Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines.
Through the Northern Highways Program, the province has awarded contracts totaling $26 million for projects to rehabilitate:
- 27.5 kilometres of Highway 11 east of Rainy River, along with the culverts at Bunting Creek
- 20.4 kilometres of Highway 71 south of the Highway 17 junction east of Kenora
This funding will also include culvert replacements in three locations:
- Rainy River Tributary on Highway 11 east of Rainy River
- Rae Lake on Highway 17 east of Kenora
- Suckle, Mineral and Flynne creeks on Highway 11 east of Longlac
The bridge at Crow River on the Northern Ontario Resource Trail north of Pickle Lake will also be replaced.
Work on these projects will occur over the 2016 construction season, and is already underway at some locations.
“Our government is investing in the critical transportation infrastructure that families and businesses in Northern Ontario rely on daily. Expanding and improving our northern highway network is necessary to help our economy grow and to create jobs in the North, and it is proof that Premier Kathleen Wynne and our government are focused on building Ontario up,” said Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation.
The news is encouraging to the Mayors of Greenstone, Rainy River and Kenora.
“Our municipality spans 220 kilometres of TransCanada Highway 11, and connects us with regional and international markets, so we appreciate the Ontario government’s investments in this critical highway infrastructure,” shared Renald Beaulieu, Mayor, Municipality of Greenstone.
“I want to thank the Ontario government for these latest investments to keep the major highways through our region in good driving condition,”said David Canfield, Mayor, City of Kenora.
“I am very pleased that the province is carrying out repairs on Highway 11 to keep traffic flowing safely through our community,” commented Deborah Ewald, Mayor, Town of Rainy River.
