A Sudbury company has been awarded a $41.9 million contract to twin a six-kilometre stretch of highway between Thunder Bay and Nipigon.
The section of highway affected falls between Hodder Avenue and Highway 527, and is expected to create as many as 300 jobs during the lifespan of the project, expected to be completed in 2013.
The construction will also include the construction of a new interchange at Hodder Avenue and Copenhagen Road, a new entranceway to the Terry Fox Scenic Lookout and a new intersection at Highway 527 and Spruce River Road.
"I am extremely pleased that we are undertaking this major expansion of Highway 11/17," said Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Michael Gravelle, in a release issued by the province on Friday. "This stretch of highway is very important to the people and economy of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario."
Teranorth Construction and Engineering of Greater Sudbury was selected by the province to do the project, deemed necessary by the province to improve traffic flow and increase safety.
