Sections of the Highway 69 widening project, which has faced delays, are set to undergo significant construction by the end of next year. Although a firm completion date is still pending, Ontario’s Transportation Minister, Prabmeet Sarkaria, revealed plans to divide the remaining 68 kilometers into six sections, with four sections moving into intensive construction by the end of 2027.
Sarkaria emphasized the province’s commitment to accelerating the project by utilizing all available resources. As a crucial next step, a portion of the CN rail line in the Municipality of Killarney is being relocated to pave the way for a new interchange at Highway 522 and the subsequent phase of Highway 69 expansion.
The decision to break down the project into smaller contracts aims to expedite construction and allow more firms to participate in the bidding process. Despite the lack of a definitive timeline, approximately 68 kilometers of Highway 69 remain to be widened, a project initially slated for completion by 2017 but plagued by multiple delays.
Reporters pressed Sarkaria on the absence of completion dates and project timelines. While he didn’t provide direct answers, he highlighted the province’s strategy of dividing the remaining stretch as a lesson learned from past highway projects to facilitate quicker commencement of construction activities.
Sarkaria underscored the provincial commitment to investing $31 billion over the next decade to upgrade transportation infrastructure across Ontario, with approximately $600 million allocated annually for projects in northern Ontario. Further details on plans for highways 11 and 17 are expected to be disclosed in the coming weeks.
Local officials, including Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre, commended the progress on Highway 69, recognizing its significance as a crucial transportation corridor. However, Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas expressed concerns about the absence of a budget and completion date for the project’s entirety, urging continued pressure on the province to fulfill its promises.
In response to questions regarding the impact of trade disputes on infrastructure projects, Sarkaria highlighted the role of infrastructure investments in enhancing Ontario’s resilience amid economic uncertainties. George Pirie, the MPP for Timmins and Ontario’s Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth, emphasized the importance of infrastructure in securing supply chains and ensuring the flow of critical minerals from northern Ontario to other regions within the province.