Ontario Construction News staff writer
Construction is underway to upgrade Highway 17 from Echo Bay to Highway 548, resurfacing almost 17 kilometres of highway and repairing and replacing the Bar River Bridges, Stobie Creek Bridge and Richardson Creek Bridge.
“Highway 17 is a vital transportation and trade corridor that connects Northern Ontario communities and supports the movement of people, goods, and services across Canada. NOMA welcomes this investment in rehabilitating and strengthening key infrastructure near Echo Bay, which will improve safety, reliability, and long-term resiliency along an important section of the Trans-Canada Highway,” said Rick Dumas, President of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA). “We appreciate the province’s continued commitment to investing in Northern Ontario’s transportation network.”
Crews have started resurfacing a 16.8-kilometre section of Highway 17 from south of Echo Bay to Highway 548. The project also includes rehabilitating the eastbound Bar River Bridge and replacing the westbound Bar River Bridge. As part of a separate contract, crews will replace the Stobie Creek Bridge and rehabilitate the Walker Creek Culvert on Highway 17, as well as replace the Richardson Creek Bridge on Highway 548.
“Highway 17 is a vital transportation and trade corridor for Northern Ontario and a critical link in Canada’s national highway network,” said Steven Crombie
Senior Director, Public Affairs, Ontario Road Builders’ Association (ORBA). “ORBA welcomes this investment by the Ontario government, which will improve safety, strengthen the reliability of key infrastructure, and support the efficient movement of people and goods.
“Projects like this not only enhance connectivity for northern communities but also create good-paying construction jobs and help build a more competitive economy.”
Highway 17 is a strategic link in the Trans-Canada Highway corridor, moving goods valued at more than $18.6 billion every year. Ontario is twinning the Trans-Canada Highway from Thunder Bay to Nipigon.
Phase one was completed from Kenora to the Manitoba border in October 2024. The second phase of twinning Highway 17 between Highway 673 and Rush Bay Road is currently in preliminary design.
“Highway 17 is more than a roadway, it is a vital economic corridor that connects northern communities, moves goods to market and supports jobs across the region,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “By strengthening this key section of the Trans-Canada Highway, our government is continuing to improve highway safety for the families, workers and commercial drivers who rely on this route every day, while helping secure domestic supply chains and reinforcing Canadian sovereignty at a time when it has never been more important.”
Ontario is investing more than $31 billion to build, repair and expand highways, roads and bridges across the province, including more than $600 million this year to expand and repair transportation infrastructure across northern Ontario.
