Falk hopeful highway twinning project will extend into Manitoba

A member of parliament from eastern Manitoba says announced plans to twin the Trans-Canada Highway from the Ontario border to Kenora is good news for Manitobans.

Provencher Member of Parliament, Ted Falk, is applauding an announcement regarding the further twinning of Highway 17, in Ontario.

In spring, the Province of Ontario will begin phase one of twinning the Trans-Canada Highway. The announcement was made at the Ontario/Manitoba border by Ontario's Minister of Transportation, Caroline Mulroney, and Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources, and Forestry.

Prior to the official announcement, the two ministers signed contracts with Indigenous partners for early works to produce the raw materials needed to build the road base and for clearing work, including tree and brush removal, within the new right of way for the first section of the twinning project.

Phase one will be the 6.5 kilometres-long stretch from the border to the junction of Highway 673.

"I think this is just great news for residents of Provencher, many of whom travel that road on a fairly regular basis, especially in summer," says Falk. "I think this is just going to be a tremendous, tremendous project."

Falk says the twinning should increase the safety for travellers going back and forth to Kenora. He suggests it will benefit Manitobans heading to Kenora, but also residents of Kenora who travel into Manitoba to do their shopping.

"It is something that people always talk about, how dangerous that road is," he says.

But, going one step further, Falk says people talk about how dangerous the Trans-Canada Highway is from Kenora all the way to Falcon Lake. He is hopeful this latest announcement might spark some interest on the Manitoba side as well.

"We've got a responsibility here in Manitoba to prioritize it from Falcon Lake to the border as well," he says. "Maybe this will be the impetus that we needed to make it a priority."

Falk says he is also thrilled with the Indigenous partnership.

"They are very excited to be partners with the project as well," he adds. 'And to give their blessing for the project which will cross right over some of their territory there. So I think that's great, it's a good example of governments working together at all levels and especially together with our Indigenous community."

No timeline has been made clear of when phase one will be completed, or when phase two or three will begin.