The 4-lane expansion of Highway 17 between Renfrew and Arnprior is the largest capital project funded by the province to ever hit Renfrew County.
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski says expressions of interest are going out for the first stage of the work and he encourages all qualified contractors including local businesses to submit for the job.
The province is expected to release a regional transportation plan for Eastern Ontario in 2021.
Yakabuski says eventually they want to 4-lane Highway 17 all the way to North Bay.
Yakabuski says when the province announced the 22.5 km expansion back in 2019 that it would take roughly 10-years to complete.
He’s hopeful construction will start on the interchange at Calabogie Road by next summer.
Yakabuski adds there will be some traffic impacts, but the pro’s outweigh the con’s when it comes to expanding the Highway.
He says the 4-lane highway expansion will improve safety, connect local communities, create jobs and attract investment to the region.
The construction of a new interchange at the Calabogie Road intersection in the Township of McNab/Braeside is Stage 1 in the Highway 17 Widening Project between Arnprior and Renfrew.
Stage 2 of the project includes building three new interchanges and widening Highway 17 from two lanes to four from Scheel Drive in the Township of McNab/Braeside to just west of Bruce Street in Horton Township.
Expressions of interest can be submitted here.
