Four lane Highway 17
A 10-kilometre stretch of the TransCanada Highway at the Manitoba-Ontario border, a route taken by many Clearwater Bay cottagers all summer long will be expanded from two to four lanes. In the summer, traffic almost doubles from 4,000 vehicles a day to 7,000. Twinning the highway will create a safer roadway for both area residents and holiday travellers to the Kenora tourist region.
The construction of the passing lanes approved earlier, will be halted until new plans are drawn up for the twinning of the highway. However, paving will be completed on the section of highway from the border to the Rush Bay turn off. The $100-million upgrade to twin the highway is scheduled to begin next year, pending environmental assessment.
A route planning and design study is now underway to expand an additional 30 kilometres between the border and Kenora. Clearwater Bay cottagers and other area residents should be sure to watch the local papers and radio stations for information on public information sessions to be held on the progress of the plans for the highway. More information is available at:
www.4lanehighway17kenora.ca
