THUNDER BAY – In less than two months, the province intends to take its next step towards the upgrading and expansion of Highway 11/17 through the city.
Newswatch sent an inquiry to the Ministry of Transportation about the timeline for its Thunder Bay Expressway Rehabilitation project. In an emailed statement, Sydney Dubin, senior issues advisor, wrote, “this is a regional priority project included in the draft Transportation Plan for Northern Ontario. A Request for Proposals for the detail design assignment to expand the Thunder Bay Expressway will be released in September 2025.”
It’s been over a decade since the MTO proposed turning Thunder Bay’s Expressway into a four-lane divided highway, replacing traffic lights with interchanges at major intersections, including on-ramps at Arthur Street, Harbour Expressway, a future northwest arterial route, Red River Road, and Balsam Street and eliminating highway access at John Street and Oliver Road.
Although the province will soon be commissioning a design for the project, Thunder Bay—Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland said the construction work won't start before the city's Northwest Arterial Road project.
Holland fielded a question about the expressway at a press conference with the premier on Thursday, where Doug Ford said he was “all in” on twinning the Trans-Canada across Northwestern Ontario.
Holland said the Northwest Arterial Road needs to come first before the MTO will move forward with plans to divide the Thunder Bay Expressway and install interchanges.
“For the upgrades to the city of Thunder Bay, there's a requirement for the city on Northwest Arterial Road that needs to be finished first. So, we will be continuing to have those discussions with the City of Thunder Bay. I've raised the issue with Minister Sarkaria in transportation, and we're going to work towards the resolution, said Holland.
The Northwest Arterial Road is a proposed four-kilometre-long connection between Dawson Road and Golf Links Road.
Back in May, the city's manager of engineering, Aaron Ward told council the city can start work on the Northwest Arterial but can't dictate the MTO's timelines for the Thunder Bay Expressway Rehabilitation during rezoning debate.
Holland also said Thunder Bay’s designated truck route, which he does not support, is a cause for concern for the project with an expected influx of over 1,300 transport trucks per day travelling on the expressway.
“I think it's gonna create a lot more traffic congestion and more safety concerns, not just in the region, but in particular, as you mentioned on the expressway. I'd really like to work with the communities that are impacted on this so that we can bring together a concrete, effective plan to deal with highway and truck safety within the city of Thunder Bay,” Holland said.
