Ontario Investing in Northern Ontario Highways

Written by Ontario Newsroom on 18 November 2015

Ontario is making travel easier and safer across Northern Ontario by investing $560 million in highway infrastructure projects in 2015-16 through the Northern Highways Program.

As the construction season wraps up, Northern Highway Program projects are adding passing lanes, resurfacing roads, rehabilitating and replacing bridges, and four-laning sections of Highway 69 south of Sudbury and Highway 11-17 east of Thunder Bay.

This funding is part of the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario’s history — more than $130 billion over 10 years, which is making 110,000 jobs possible every year across Ontario, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals.

Ontario is building safe, reliable infrastructure to help create jobs and ensure a bright future for the province. Between April and September, the province announced support for more than 200 projects that will keep people and goods moving, strengthen the economy, connect communities and improve quality of life. Northern Highways Program projects build on that progress.

These much-needed investments are supported by a number of initiatives, including broadening the ownership of Hydro One — an approach that raises billions for infrastructure while ensuring consumers are protected. By unlocking the value of provincial assets, the government is supporting critical projects in cities, towns, and rural and remote communities all across Ontario.

Supporting highway infrastructure is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario up. The four-part plan includes investing in people’s talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.

Quick Facts

Northern Ontario has more than 11,000 kilometres of provincial highways, about 60 per cent of the entire provincial highways network.
Ontario’s population is expected to grow by approximately 40 per cent by 2041, placing additional importance on having modern infrastructure to support a growing population.
Research shows that every $100 million of public infrastructure investment in Ontario boosts GDP by $114 million, particularly in construction and manufacturing sectors.
Investing in roads, highways and bridges is part of the Ontario government’s Growth Plan for Northern Ontario.