A portion of Highway 6 on Manitoulin Island will be reconstructed this spring, including one-metre wide paved shoulders to accommodate cyclists, following funding approval from the province.
Pioneer Construction of Sudbury has been awarded the $5.3-million job, which will start this month and is expected to be completed by October. Single-lane closures are anticipated during construction.
“Paving shoulders on Highway 6 will help us shape future transportation needs in the community,” said Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne in a news release. “We are looking at ways to promote active, healthy transportation choices across Ontario while ensuring our roads remain safe for all users.”
The funding allotment follows a pair of similar announcements last August of the repaving of 23 kilometres of Highway 6 near Manitowaning and 66 kilometres of similar work between Mar and Tobermory.
The paved shoulders are part of a pilot project to accommodate cyclists, which comes after lobbying from cycling enthusiasts on Manitoulin and the Bruce Peninsula who pushed to have highways made safer for the burgeoning cycling tourism trade.
In addition to offering safer passageway for cyclists, the paving is expected to create better driving conditions, support local tourism, and create 38 jobs.
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