North Bay highway pilot project seeks to improve traffic in northern Ontario

TEMISKAMING SHORES, ONT.—A 2+1 highway pilot project on Highway 11 north of North Bay, Ont. is expected to help improve road safety and traffic flow.

The project is part of the Government of Ontario’s plan to get shovels in the ground across the province. The 2+1 is a three-lane highway with a centre passing lane that changes direction about every two to five kilometres separated by a barrier.

The province has identified the top two locations for the proposed highway pilot along Highway 11 which includes from Sand Dam Road to Ellesmere Road (14 kilometres) and from Highway 64 to Jumping Caribou Lake Road (16 kilometres).

The pilot locations were selected based on a site selection criteria report that was posted for comment on the Ministry of Transportation’s Technical Consultation Portal on Sept. 13, with input from the 2+1 Advancement Working Group, which includes representation from Going the Extra Mile for Safety (part of the Temiskaming Shores and Area Chamber of Commerce), indicates a release.

The public and stakeholders can comment on the proposed locations on the portal, https://tcp.mto.gov.on.ca/notice/000-0045, until Jan. 11, 2022. The province will evaluate comments and announce the final 2+1 pilot locations to advance to preliminary design in January 2022.

“The 2+1 highway project is important for people and businesses across Northern Ontario who rely on our roads and highways every day to get where they need to go,” said Vic Fedeli, minister of economic development, job creation and trade, in a statement. “This pilot project along Highway 11 will help address some of the unique transportation challenges experienced by remote communities, including First Nation communities, and will play an important part in strengthening economic growth and job creation in the North.”