Hwy 11 four-laning to be completed in seven years, Takhar says

The four-laning of Hwy 11 will be done over the next seven years Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar said in North Bay today.

He was in the city to unveil the province's Northern Ontario Highways Strategy and said Queen's Park will invest $1.8 billion in Northern highways, including 11.

Further information is included in the following news release issued today by the ministry:

Ontario Government's Northern Ontario Highways Strategy to Boost Prosperity


The Ontario government today released a record $1.8-billion, five-year plan for highway improvement and expansion in Northern Ontario.

The Northern Ontario Highways Strategy (NOHS) will increase
infrastructure investment in the North by almost 40 per cent over five years, improve road safety and encourage economic development across the North.

"No other government has committed as much over this time frame. This government is making a record investment that will improve safety, benefit local industry and tourism. Almost 11 million trips are made on Northern highways every year," said Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar.

"The Northern Ontario Highways Strategy will make a huge difference to the North."

The five-year plan will create 45,000 jobs through:
- $1.1 billion in pavement and bridge improvements;
- $700 million in highway expansion;
- Building and improving a total of more than 2,000 kilometres of highways and 200 bridges.

- The four-laning of Highway 11 to North Bay over the next seven years;
- The four-laning of Highway 69 from Parry Sound to Sudbury within 12 years;
- Safety improvements to Highway 17 including adding passing lanes and truck-climbing lanes.

"Highway 11 is one of Northern Ontario's busiest highways," said Nipissing MPP Monique Smith.

"More than 10,000 vehicles and $44 million worth of goods travel this section of highway every day on average. Widening the highway from two to four lanes is one of our community's top priorities and will be an important engine for economic growth for all of northeastern
Ontario."

"Northern Ontario highways are lifelines for people and businesses of the North," said Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines.

"The Northern Ontario Highways Strategy will help ensure optimum safety for drivers and facilitate economic growth through enhanced access to markets elsewhere in the province."

"This strategy identifies plans for projects across the entire provincial highway network in the North," said Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown.

"It reflects our commitment to support development of northern regions, industries, cities and communities."

"This is another example of the McGuinty government's commitment to northern prosperity," said Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP David Ramsay. "Northern Ontario's economy is dependant on the condition of its roads. This
announcement will help our communities to thrive."
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BayToday.ca will be providing full coverage of Takhar's news conference.