Construction-related delays on area highways to continue

Motorists travelling through the Atikokan - Fort Frances area will continue to encounter delays this fall due to roadwork and the reconstruction of the Noden Causeway.

Traffic on the causeway has been reduced to a single lane since construction began in the spring. Officials with the Ministry of Transportation say bridge rehabilitation work, scheduled to be complete by mid-October, is now behind schedule.

The MTO reports the delays are due to unanticipated challenges in placing the new deck on the existing piers.

As a result, the contractor will most likely only complete the first stage of work by this fall.

The company will then prepare the causeway for normal two-lane traffic over the winter season, and return next spring to complete the job. Meanwhile, motorists travelling along Highway 11 west of Atikokan can also expect to encounter traffic delays as highway improvements are reducing stretches of road down to one lane.

The roadwork starts 16 kilometres west of Atikokan and extend west for another 23 kilometres.

The work consists of resurfacing and replacing existing culverts. The MTO says the job is expected to be completed this fall.