Highway Investments Boost Northern Economy
July 21, 2010
Work is ongoing on Hwy 614 South of Manitouwadge
McGuinty Government Helping Create More Than 5000 Jobs In The North
NEWS
Ontario’s continued commitment to highway infrastructure throughout Northern Ontario will help improve safety and efficiency on northern roads for residents, visitors and industry. It will also help boost the economy in northern communities and create approximately 5,500 jobs across the North.
Through the Northern Highways Program, the province will continue its investment in northern highways and infrastructure in 2010-11. The program will include expansion and safety initiatives and rehabilitation projects for roads, highways and bridges. The program will also provide highway rehabilitations and multi-year safety initiatives such as passing lanes, intersection upgrades and lighting improvements.
Some of the new key projects include:
- Expanding Highway 11-17 east of Thunder Bay to four lanes
- Highway 614 South of Manitouwadge Reconstruction, project length: 25 km
- Continuing the expansion of Highway 11 south of North Bay
- Continuing the expansion of Highway 69 south of Sudbury.
Investing in highway infrastructure is an important part of the Open Ontario plan to create jobs and economic opportunities in Northern Ontario.
QUICK FACTS
- Northern Ontario has almost 11,000 kilometres of highway, about 60 per cent of the entire provincial highway network.
- As part of the 2010 Ontario Budget, more than $773 million will be invested in northern highway rehabilitation and expansion in 2010-2011. This includes approximately $327 million for expansion and safety initiative projects and about $446 million for rehabilitation projects, including additional funding for bridges.
- Since 2003, the Ontario government has invested more than $3.5 billion in northern highway improvements.
LEARN MORE
- Read the Ontario government’s five-year investment plan for highway construction in Northern Ontario.
- Get up-to-date construction reports on major highways. You can call the ministry’s road information line toll-free at 1-800-268-4686.
