Federal Minister of Industry John Baird joins Sudbury MPP and Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Rick Bartolucci, at the announcement of the improved section of Highway 69 between Estaire and Highway 637.
Credit: Province of Ontario
The four-laning of Highway 11 between North Bay and Huntsville (and beyond) has been completed, making this the first continuous 4-lane highway between Southern and Northern Ontario.
"Our government has followed through on its commitment to complete the four-laning of Highway 11 by 2012", said Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci. "As one of the largest undertakings ever funded through the Northern Highways Program, our government has invested significantly in advancing safety and promoting economic development and job creation in communities along the Highway 11 corridor."
"The completion of the four-laning of Highway 11 is great news for Northeastern Ontario," said Minister of Transportation, Bob Chiarelli. "I am pleased that our investment has finished the job for the families and businesses that depend on this highway corridor."
Bartolucci also recently announced an improvement to a section of Highway 69 between Estaire (the point south of Sudbury where the 4-lane ends) and the Killarney Highway 637. The 8km stretch was straightened and widened to create a safer drive for travelers, and it also features Ontario's first overheard wildlife crossing bridge.
That section of Highway 69 is included in a 4-laning contract just awarded to Bot Construction Ltd in June. The 11km stretch between Estaire and 3.1km North of Highway 64 is now under construction and the province plans to have 4 lanes open in August 2015.
Following the completion of that stretch, about 92km of Highway 69 will still be two lanes.
