Truckers, municipal leaders lobby for Hwy. 11/17 improvements

Northeastern and northwestern Ontario municipal leaders are calling on the provincial and federal governments to accelerate investment in highways 11 and 17.

The northeastern and northwestern municipal associations, along with the Ontario Trucking Association, are advocating for a phased approach to improvements along highways 11 and 17.

Municipal leaders said having the truckers involved amplifies their message and highlights the importance of the transportation corridor to the provincial and national economy.

“We’re hoping to get some traction and have an opportunity to meet with the key ministers, as well as the prime minister,” said Rick Dumas, president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.

“The provincial government is fully aware of our meeting and we’ve also sent our concerns to the federal government.”

Dave Plourde, president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, said northern leaders will keep pressing both levels of government for action.

Come to an understanding

“We’re going to keep promoting the necessity here,” said Plourde.

“I’m hopeful that we’ll eventually come to an understanding between both the federal and provincial governments to undertake this large project.”

Officials said highways 11 and 17 support billions of dollars in trade every year and are critical transportation links across northern Ontario.

They also warned against a repeat of the Nipigon River Bridge failure nearly a decade ago, which temporarily severed the country’s main east-west transportation route.

“We know how we are faced with our neighbour right now,” Dumas said.

“Anything that can have a bump in the road -- and it’s as simple as that -- that bridge and the rail line right beside it getting into any kind of situation, Canada is literally cut in half … I don’t know if people really realize the importance of that.”

Plourde added that Highway 11 is no longer suited to current traffic demands.

“Our infrastructure was built in the 1940s to accommodate 1940s-style traffic,” he said.

“Here we are, all these years later and we’re still travelling the same roads. We have to get the commitment from both levels of government to come to the table, talk about it, and make sure it’s part of their long-term plans.”

The Ontario Trucking Association was unavailable for an interview. However, in a news release, the organization said it is still waiting for a meaningful response from both the federal and provincial governments.