Source: North Bay Nugget May 12, 2005
Gord Young The province included a prize for the North Bay area in its budget Wednesday, announcing the completion of the four-laning of Highway 11 in seven years. Part of a $297-million investment for Northern Ontario highway rehabilitation and expansion, the long-awaited completion date confirms that the province is committed to the project. “I’m ecstatic that we’ve finally got a firm commitment
with a completion date . . . that’s all we’ve been asking
for,” said Coun. Dave Mendicino, who has long championed the completion
of the project. Mendicino said the Liberal government’s commitment to complete the four-laning project between Huntsville and North Bay by 2012 is the kind of an aggressive timeframe he was hoping for. And once the remaining 41 kilometres are four-laned, he said Highway 11 will be a safer route for drivers and will help market the area and boost the local economy. “I’m looking forward to seeing new construction begin in the very near future,” Mendicino said. Nipissing MPP Monique Smith said funding and a firm timeline for the four-laning project is “good news” for the riding. And Smith said she hopes to accelerate the completion of the highway project. “I’ll certainly work to push that date ahead as best we can,” she said. Also part of the spending on highway rehabilitation and expansion, the four-laning of Highway 69 is to be completed in 12 years — news that will alleviate concerns Highway 11 was no longer a priority. Local politicians have been lobbying for a completion date for the project since the Liberals were first elected 2003. The issue pitted North Bay against Sudbury over concerns Northern Development Minister Rick Bartolucci had given priority to the four-laning of Highway 69. |