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NORTH BAY, ON, Oct. 2 /CNW/ - To improve road safety and access between northern and southern Ontario, the Ernie Eves government officially opened a new four-lane section of Highway 11, Transportation Minister Norm Sterling announced today.
"Our government is fulfilling a commitment we made to implement an aggressive schedule to widen this key corridor and support the safe and efficient movement of people and goods in Northern Ontario," Sterling said. "We will continue to push forward to four- lane Highway 11 the entire distance between Huntsville and North Bay."
The new section of freeway, known as the Trout Creek Bypass, was opened by Sterling and Nipissing MPP Al McDonald nearly a full year ahead of schedule. Southbound lanes are scheduled to open to the public tomorrow and the northbound lanes will open in two weeks.
"Today's announcement is welcome news for residents and commuters in the area," McDonald said. "As communities continue to grow, the new Highway 11 will improve access and safety to local businesses."
The $60-million project includes:
- seven kilometres of new four-lane highway;
- five new bridges; and
- interchanges at the south and north ends of the bypass, which will
provide direct access to the Town of Trout Creek and Highway 522,
improving access to local businesses and tourist destinations
throughout the area.
In 1995, the government made a commitment to four-lane Highway 11 between Huntsville and North Bay. To date, 16 kms of new four-lane highway and six new bridges have been opened along the corridor.
Currently, construction work is also underway to four-lane an additional 23 km of Highway 11 between North Bay and Huntsville. This includes a new 10km, $37-million construction project between Trout Creek and South River. Engineering work and property acquisition is well underway for the remaining 47 kms to be four- laned.
In addition to the four-laning of Highway 11 to North Bay, the Ernie Eves government has also committed to four-laning Highway...