The expansion of Highway 17 from two lanes to four between Renfrew and Arnprior is ready for phase two.
At an announcement in McNab-Braeside on Monday morning, Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria touted the completion of phase one for the project, featuring the opening of the new Calabogie Road interchange carrying traffic over Highway 417, as well as a new carpool lot, access roads, and new ramp connections.
He says the announcement is proof that the province is making “rapid progress” to complete the project, which they promised would be a priority four years ago, adding that they recognize “how important this project is to the local community, and once complete, it will fight gridlock and improve safety for workers, families, and businesses in eastern Ontario.”
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski joined Sarkaria for the announcement, saying the project shows the “government is serious about making travel easier for the 14,000 drivers who rely on this stretch of Highway 17 every day.”
The next steps for the project include three more interchanges and widening 22.5 kilometres of Highway 17 between Scheel Drive in McNab-Braeside and Bruce Street in Renfrew.
(written by Kasey Egan)