Northern highways get big financial boost RR/Baudette international bridge to get a paint job from the province

News Release
Ministry of Northern
Development and Mines

SUDBURY - Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci today released details of the McGuinty government’s $256-million Northern Highways Program including numerous projects to renovate and upgrade roads throughout Northern Ontario.
“We’ve increased the Northern Highways Program budget to address the need for improved highways throughout the North,” said Bartolucci. “ This means that people and commerce throughout Northern Ontario will benefit from upgraded highway infrastructure. Better infrastructure is vital to our Northern Prosperity Plan and to strengthening the North and its communities.”
“Investing in our highways not only makes our roads safer, it spurs economic growth by creating jobs and keeping people and goods moving,” said Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar. “This is part of our investment of nearly $1 billion that will help create approximately 20,600 construction and related jobs throughout the province.”
Investments in Ontario’s 11,000-kilometre northern highway network are part of the McGuinty government’s Northern Prosperity Plan. The government will also develop and implement a comprehensive Northern Ontario Highways
Strategy to improve highways and continue construction of vital new highway links to major communities throughout the North.
Projects in this area include:
*Reconstruction of 27 kilometres of Highway 11 beginning about 15 kilometres west of Shebandowan;
*Replacement of the Sioux Narrows Bridge on Highway 71 at Sioux Narrows;
*Painting of the Baudette/Rainy River International Bridge on Highway 11.
*Rehabilitation of the Pinewood River bridge.