Highway 11 contracts awarded; A 'major step,' Smith says

Gord Young
Local News - Friday, August 25, 2006 @ 08:00

The province confirmed its commitment to complete the four-laning of Highway 11 Thursday, announcing two more contracts have been awarded.

The contracts, totalling $120 million, will see work continue between Katrine and Burk's Fall and construction begin from Boundary Road to South River.

"This is another major step toward meeting our commitment to complete Highway 11 four-laning by 2012," said Nipissing MPP Monique Smith, during a news conference at the truck inspection station south of Wasi Road.

The first project is the second of three contracts to four-lane the highway from Katrine to Burk's Falls and includes the construction of eight bridges and a new interchange at Ferguson Road and Highway 520.

Realigning Highway 592 and Sunset Pass Drive from Deer Lake Road to the new Municipal Service Road is also included in the $54-million contract, which was awarded jointly to Aecon Construction and Material Ltd., of Toronto, and Leo Alarie and Sons Ltd., of Timmins. The work is now underway and is expected to be completed in late 2008.

The second project involves four-laning 9.5 kilometres from Boundary Road to the end of the completed section of the highway north of South River. The project includes interchanges at Boundary Road and the north entrance to South River, as well as seven new bridges and a snowmobile culvert at the Boundary Road interchange.

The $65-million contract has been awarded to Bot Construction of Oakville and work is expected to be begin shortly, with completion scheduled for October 2009.

Smith, who made the announcement on behalf of Northern Development Minister Rick Bartolucci, said the long-awaited highway expansion will provide safer travelling for motorists and will act as an economic engine.

Powassan Mayor Bob Young said the completion of the highway in 2012 is expected to "open up" the area, helping attract people and businesses.

Coun. Dave Mendicino, who has long championed the completion of the project, said the announcement is a sign the province is honouring its commitment and timeline promised last year. He said it's also comforting to see work moving ahead on Highway 11, while Highway 69 is under heavy construction.

Mark King, president of the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce, also welcomed the announcement as an important step toward improving the area's transportation infrastructure.

He said North Bay has the potential to become the transportation hub of Northern Ontario once the highway is complete. King said it's been suggested companies could avoid congestion at airports in southern Ontario by shipping goods by truck from North Bay after bringing them in by plane to Jack Garland Airport.