Feds make joint announcement with province for more four-laning work

THUNDER BAY -- The federal government is stepping in to see the province's four-laning continue between Thunder Bay and Nipigon.

Federal natural resources minister Greg Rickford was in Thunder Bay Monday to announce up to $56 million for two projects totaling nearly 20 kilometres of highway 11/17 from Black Sturgeon River Bridge to Red Rock Road No. 9 and highway 587 to Pearl Creek.

The federal money, tapped from its $53 billion New Building Canada Plan, would fund up to 50 per cent of the project, the province paying for its portion from part of the $130 billion it plans to spend on infrastructure over the next decade.

"It's about the province and the federal government working together on key components of this great highway that is in need of some twinning," Rickford said.

Contribution agreements still need to be signed and with the province recently announcing work on the highway to Pass Lake last week, there are no timelines in place. But Northern Development and Mines minister Michael Gravelle said it's all part of the province's commitment to see the highway four-laned all the way to Nipigon, which has around 30 kilometres of road left unfunded.

While the money is coming from the province's infrastructure funding, it's being leveraged with federal money so it won't mean less money for the region when money from its Moving Ontario Forward plan starts to flow.

"If this frees up a few more dollars to take on more projects boy that's good news," Gravelle said.

The five-kilometre Black Sturgeon Road project has up to $26 million with the Pearl Creek project eligible for the other $30 million.