Wednesday, July 14, 2010

MTO Responds to Trans-Canada Twinning Concerns

The Ministry of Transportation has issued a response to some of the concerns raised about twinning the Trans-Canada Highway between the Manitoba Border and the Kenora By-Pass.

The MTO says some of the routes north of the current Highway 17 road bed were ruled out due to potential impacts to undisturbed forests, wildlife habitat and a poor crossing of Deception
Creek.

It adds that while its not bound by the Clearwater Bay Restricted Area Order, any construction has to first pass a Class Environmental Assessment.

The MTO statement goes on to say that no final decision on where to locate a double lane highway
from Clearwater Bay to Kenricia Road has been made yet.

It is hoping to finalize a route by the fall.

Construction on the first phase of the twinning project from the Manitoba Border to Rush Bay
is also expected to begin this fall.