$56-million in federal funding is being earmarked for two, four-laning projects between Thunder Bay and Nipigon.
Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford has announced joint funding with the province under the New Building Canada Plan to improve Highway 11/17.
Rickford says, while he can’t contemplate an exact timeline, their anticipation is the project won’t take as long as the twinning project in the Kenora district.
He notes funding is conditional on meeting eligibility requirements under the New Building Canada Fund, but says the feds are confident both will make the cut.
Provincial Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle adds these projects will take priority once the twinning of another section of Thunder Bay area road is completed in the 2017 construction season.
The upgrades will affect a five kilometre stretch of Highway 11-17 from the Black Sturgeon River Bridge to Red Rock Road number nine.
The second is a 15-kilometre stretch from Highway 587 to Pearl Creek.
