Consultation underway for four-lane plans

It appears to be all systems go for the multi-million dollar start to the twinning of Hwy. 11/17 between Thunder Bay and Nipigon.

Although the Ministry of Transportation can’t yet provide the final cost of the three-year project, an MTO official said the final consultation work is under way and work could begin as early as this spring.

The project will see a number of improvements made to a six-kilometre stretch of the TransCanada Highway, including a cloverleaf at the Hodder Avenue and Copenhagen Road interchange, an 800-metre shift of the Terry Fox Scenic Lookout access, a new intersection at Hwy. 527 and Spruce River Road and additional lighting.

Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Michael Gravelle called it an exciting project that will make driving through the region much safer and a welcome start to what he hopes is a much more wide-reaching effort to four-lane the entire stretch of highway.

"The four-laning of the highway between Thunder Bay and Nipigon is something I have fought for for a long time, since the moment I was elected. Certainly it was exciting news when we were able to confirm that indeed two portions of the highway between Thunder Bay and Nipigon will be moving forward to construction phase in 2010," Gravelle said on Friday afternoon.

An additional 14-kilometre stretch of Highway 11/17 between MacKenzie Beach and Birch Beach will be twinned, starting this year.

"This is a long sought-for improvement to our highway system in Northwestern Ontario. Certainly the argument has always been that the highway between Thunder Bay and Nipigon that there is no alternate route. We’ve seen a number of accidents that we hope with the four lanes being put in … that we’ll see less traffic accidents and obviously less fatalities," Gravelle said.

Dan Preley, the MTO’s senior project engineer overseeing the project, said drivers will notice a significant difference at the Terry Fox lookout, where a new road to the memorial will be built, accessible from both sides.

The cloverleaf will provide safer access onto and off of the TransCanada.

Preley said motorists should be prepared for slight interruptions when the work finally does begin.

"In terms of traffic impacts, motorists will encounter short delays while travelling on the highway when rock blasting is occurring," Preley said. "Temporary closures of both Hodder Avenue and Copenhagen Road, immediately north and south of Highway 11/17 are anticipated to accommodate construction of the interchange."

Detours have already been mapped out and will be clearly marked, he added, responding by email to a series of questions posed by Dougall Media.

Gravelle said until tenders go out, it’s impossible to even ballpark a budget for the two projects.