Northern Ontario communities propose widening sections of Trans-Canada Highway

Globe and Mail

4 hours ago

Northern Ontario communities are looking to have sections of the Trans-Canada Highway widened as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney's push to support nation-building infrastructure projects under Bill C-5.
The proposal from the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, which represents communities in the northeastern part of the province, has backing from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, which wrote a letter in support last week to federal and provincial transportation ministers.
FONOM's two-phase proposal, presented in a letter and briefing note to Mr. Carney and Premier Doug Ford last month, concerns provincially owned Highways 11 and 17, which run across northern Ontario but are a part of the federal Trans-Canada network. Currently, almost all sections of those highways between the Manitoba border and Renfrew, Ont., are two lane, according to the note.
However, two-lane passages are widely considered a safety concern. When collisions occur and force closures, it impedes the flow of all forms of traffic. The briefing, citing 2013-2017 data from Statistics Canada, notes that there is as much transport traffic on Highway 11 and 17 as there is on the Highway 401 corridor, but 'it is forced to spread over narrower, less safe roads.'
FONOM is proposing a 2+1 design, which involves the construction of a third lane for passing. This lane alternates between either direction of traffic roughly every three to five kilometres, and includes a centre median, preventing unsafe passing. This design is common in countries such as Germany and Sweden.
FONOM President Danny Whalen said he has not yet received a reply from Mr. Carney.
What federal Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, is all about
Association of Municipalities of Ontario President Robin Jones said in an interview that the proposal is 'brilliant' and said it is 'not near as expensive as twinning, but provides the benefits of twinning,' which is when a parallel route is constructed.
The first phase looks to construct a 2+1 design on Highway 11 segments from North Bay to Cochrane, as well as on Highway 17 from Renfrew to Sudbury.
The second phase would see the configuration extended from Cochrane to Nipigon on Highway 11; from Thunder Bay to Kenora on Highway 11 and 17; as well as on Highway 17 from Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury.
Mr. Whalen said he did not have a cost estimate for the project. However, a February op-ed from Northern Policy Institute, a Thunder Bay-based independent think tank, said it has been estimated that the cost of twinning an existing two-lane highway is about $3-million per kilometre. Turning that same road into a 2+1 configuration would cost between $500,000 and $1.5-million for the same distance, the op-ed argued.
Mr. Whalen said that there are many economic projects that both levels of government are looking at in Northern Ontario, such as critical mineral development, 'but you can't do that without safe highways.'
Bill C-5, which contains the Building Canada Act, allows the federal cabinet to deem projects to be of national interest and exempt them from various laws to speed up approvals and construction.
Cabinet will consider the extent to which a project would strengthen Canada's autonomy, provide economic benefits, have a high likelihood of successful execution, advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples and contribute to clean growth and meeting the country's climate commitments.
Senate passes Carney's signature bill to fast-track major projects
Mr. Whalen said the proposal would benefit the many Indigenous communities that use the highways. The briefing note also notes the 2+1 design would have a smaller environmental footprint compared to full twinning.
Mr. Carney has said that examples of nation-building projects could include highways. The Liberals also promised in their election platform to build infrastructure that connects communities, which could include the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Bill C-5's major projects office is expected to be operational by Labour Day, when it can start accepting proposals.
'As the selection of national interest projects will be discussed with provinces, territories, and Indigenous Peoples, it would not be appropriate for the Government of Canada to comment on individual projects that may or may not be considered under the Building Canada Act process at this time,' said Privy Council Office spokesperson Pierre Cuguen in an e-mailed statement when asked about the proposals for Highways 11 and 17.
Mr. Ford's office said it could not comment on how the federal government intends to use Bill C-5. Spokesperson Hannah Jensen said the government is currently consulting with Indigenous communities on 'special economic zones' that would be created under its similar law, Bill 5.
She said the Ontario government is spending $616-million on northern roads, bridges, and highways, including the twinning of Highways 11 and 17 between Thunder Bay and Nipigon, where more than 50 per cent of that corridor has been widened to four lanes.
Ms. Jensen added the province has started the process of widening Highway 11 from North Bay to Temiskaming Shores, and announced it will extend a 2+1 section on Highway 11 another 220 kilometres from Temiskaming Shores to Cochrane.
This follows a pilot project for a 2+1 portion of highway in the North Bay area that is expected to begin in 2026.