Road and bridge work will improve safety, support economic growth and keep workers on the job in northern Ontario
ECHO BAY — The Ontario government is rehabilitating a key section of the Trans-Canada Highway to improve safety, support economic growth and keep workers on the job in northern Ontario. 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.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is investing in highways in the north to improve road safety, connect communities and unlock economic opportunities,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “As we continue to dismantle interprovincial trade barriers that cost Canada’s economy $200 billion annually, these upgrades to Highway 17 will help strengthen a critical trade corridor and keep people and goods moving across northern Ontario.”
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 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.
Quick Facts
- 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.
- The province completed the first phase of twinning Highway 17 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.