Province announces enhanced highway safety initiatives
The province says it’s investing in increased enforcement to enhance safety across northern highways to keep goods and people moving safely.
Official say actions are being taken to improve safety on the Highway 11/17 corridor by advancing road enhancement projects and cracking down on dangerous driving.
“Our government is keenly aware how important safe roads, bridges and highways are to the residents, visitors and businesses in the North who rely on them daily,” says George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “That is why we are taking action to improve safety, increase enforcement and make targeted investments that will keep people safe and goods moving, while strengthening connections between northern and remote communities.”
Initiatives include:
– Increasing the number of Transportation Enforcement Officers in Northern Ontario.
– Expanding enforcement blitzes along the Highway 11/17 corridor between truck inspection stations to ensure trucks are safe and drivers follow the rules of the road.
– Deploying two mobile inspection support units in spring 2026 to increase truck enforcement along the Highway 11/17 corridor.
– Launching procurement in spring 2026 to rebuild the Hearst truck inspection station and replace the weigh scale.
– Improving and upgrading highway signage for better visibility.
– Installing new portable variable messaging signs to provide better safety information to drivers about weather conditions and closures.
– Advancing preliminary design work to expand Highway 11/17 between Thunder Bay and Shabaqua, including scheduling a public meeting in spring 2026.
– Upgrading the provincial rest area network in Northern Ontario to provide more year-round truck parking and working with municipal and business partners to expand capacity, including a new – – service hub facility in Matheson that will allow more trucks to pull off safely during winter storms.
– Continuing to work with stakeholder groups, including the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association and the Ontario Road Builders’ Association on further improvements.
Richard Coffinhttps://www.mynorthbaynow.com/Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years. From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.
