Highway 17 twinning contract awarded to Kenora firm
The project to widen a section of Highway 17 from two to four lanes between the Manitoba-Ontario border and Kenora took a major step forward on March 30.
The Ontario government announced that it has awarded a contract to Kenora’s Moncrief Construction to perform work on a 6.5-kilometre stretch of the highway running from the Manitoba border to Highway 673.
The contract could be worth as much as $32 million.
“The Twinning of Highway 17 is a legacy infrastructure project that will make roads safer in the Kenora region,” said Kenora – Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford. “Families deserve to feel safe on the roads and that is exactly what our government will accomplish by widening this stretch of the highway. Having more room on the road is critical, especially during the winter months in Northern Ontario.”
The twinning of the Highway will be done in three sections: this first phase, from the Manitoba/Ontario border to Kenora; a second phase, from Kenora to Rush Bay Road (8.5 kilometres); and the third phase from Rush Bay Road to Highway 17A (25 kilometres).
“Awarding the construction contract for twinning Highway 17 is an exciting milestone towards making this critical highway safer for drivers in Northern Ontario,” said Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney. “Together with Indigenous communities in the Kenora region, we have a shared goal of creating jobs, improving safety and building a better transportation system in Northern Ontario.”
Construction on the first section will begin this spring, with the work expected to require the company to blast and remove around 800,000 cubic metres of earth and rock, and pave around 30,000 tonnes of asphalt.
The contract will create approximately 310 jobs, with requirements to work with Indigenous partners in the area.
The first section is anticipated to be completed in 2025, with timing on the remaining sections uncertain, pending environmental assessments, and route planning and design.
Featured image: Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford and Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney on Highway 17. (Government of Ontario)