A Kapuskasing resident is dead following a collision on Highway 11 near Smooth Rock Falls on Saturday.
This is the tenth highway death of 2026 in northern Ontario.
The collision involved four tractor trailers and a passenger vehicle. A section of the Trans-Canada Highway was closed for nearly 18 hours as a result.
Last week, representatives from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association advocated for the modernization of Highway 11/17 at an economic conference in Toronto.
“These tragedies are becoming far too common on northern Ontario highways,” said NOMA President Rick Dumas. “For northern communities, these roads are lifelines. When a major collision closes the highway for hours, sometimes nearly an entire day, communities can become isolated and the movement of people, emergency services and essential goods is disrupted.”
NOMA says municipal leaders across the Kenora, Rainy River and Thunder Bay districts continue to advance highway safety as a regional priority through the Kenora District Municipal Association, Rainy River District Municipal League and Thunder Bay District Municipal League.
“These issues have been raised consistently by northern municipalities,” said Fred Mota, Mayor of Red Lake and NOMA Executive Vice President. “Communities across northwestern Ontario are working together to push for practical improvements that make these highways safer for everyone who relies on them.”
“Northern Ontarians should not face a higher level of risk simply because of where we live. Our communities deserve safe, reliable highways and a clear commitment to improving them.”
In collaboration with the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM), NOMA released a Northern Ontario Transportation Task Force report in 2023 outlining recommendations for improved safety and efficiency along Highways 11/17.
Expanded passing opportunities, strategic four-laning, improved road design and the use of the 2+1 highway model were among the primary recommendations. A 2+1 highway is a three-lane highway with a centre passing lane that changes direction approximately every two to five kilometres.
Ontario is moving forward with plans to implement the 2+1 highway model along a section of Highway 11 near North Bay (the first of its kind in North America), but otherwise NOMA says many of their ideas have been tabled.
“Northern leaders have already done the work,” Dumas said. “We encourage the Province to reopen the NOMA and FONOM Transportation Task Force report so progress on Highway 11, Highway 17 and the Highway 11/17 corridor can move forward.”
