Northwestern Ontario Construction Wraps-up for the Season
Highway Construction Improves Roads, Bridges and Creates Jobs in Northwestern Ontario
Ontario continues to expand and improve highways throughout Northern Ontario, creating and sustaining more than 5,500 construction jobs annually while making travel safer and more efficient for families, visitors and businesses.
“Investment in transportation infrastructure is one of our government’s top priorities. These investments are part of Ontario’s commitment to ensuring safe roadways across the northwest for families, visitors and industry alike. This year was certainly another successful year for the Northern Highways Program and by continuing to invest in the expansion and improvement of vital transportation links, we are helping to support a dynamic business climate in the North and improve the lives of northerners.” Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines
Over the course of the 2014 season, northwestern Ontario crews:
- Reconstructed 27 kilometres of Highway 11 west of Geraldton.
- Resurfaced more than 20 kilometres of Highway 11 west of Atikokan.
- Resurfaced 18 kilometres of Highway 17, from Ignace to Kenora.
- Replaced bridges, including: Swamp River, English River, Gulliver River, Pickerel River, French River, Seven Mile and Off Lake.
- Reconstructed bridges, including: Little Pic River, Blackwater, Whitefish River, Little Grassy River, and Medcalf Lake Narrows.
- Constructed 13 kilometres of new four-laning of Highway 11/17 east of Highway 527.
Work also continues on:
- Expansion of Highway 11/17 between Thunder Bay and Nipigon, including the new Nipigon River Bridge.
- Reconstruction of the Noden Causeway near Fort Frances.
- Reconstruction of the Pic River Bridge east of Marathon.
- Replacement of bridges, including CPR Overheads at Rossport and Schreiber, and the Trout Lake River Bridge north of Ear Falls.
“Our government’s unprecedented transportation infrastructure investments in northeastern Ontario are making our highways and roads safer for families and helping goods move more efficiently across the province. These investments are creating jobs, supporting economic growth, and improving the quality of life for all Ontarians.” Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation
Improving highways and bridges is part of the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.
Quick Facts
- Northern Ontario has more than 11,000 kilometres of provincial highways – about 60 per cent of the entire provincial highway network.
- Since 2003, the province has improved 4,123 kilometres of highways and 245 bridges, and constructed 582 kilometres of new four-lane highway along with 123 new bridges throughout Northern Ontario.
- Ontario uses new technology and greener construction practices whenever possible, including recycling existing pavement, using recycled and shredded tires for bridge embankment fill, and rapid bridge replacement, which can reduce a year of traffic delays down to two days.
Learn More
- Learn about the Ontario government’s Growth Plan for Northern Ontario.
- Read the government’s five-year investment plan for highway construction in Northern Ontario.
- Get up-to-date construction reports on major highways by calling the Ministry of Transportation’s road information line toll-free at 1-800-268-4686 or by dialing 511.
- Building Together, Ontario’s long-term infrastructure plan.
