The federal and provincial government are investing $100 million next year to improve the Trans-Canada Highway between Kenora and the Manitoba border.
The highway will be expanded from two to four lanes. About 4,000 vehicles use this stretch of Highway 17 each day and traffic nearly doubles in the summer months.
The project is scheduled to begin in 2010, pending environmental assessment and will create 700 jobs. The costs are being equally split between Ontario and Ottawa.
A route planning and design study is also underway to expand an additional 30 km of highway.
"Northern Ontario's highway network is a critical economic lifeline for the families and businesses in the North," said Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle in a May 15 statement. "This highway expansion will create jobs and make travel safer."
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