A group called Keep Highway 17 North is seeking support from city council for their proposal for twinning the Trans-Canada Highway west of the city.
Rob Giguere says they would like to seek an entirely new highway built north of the current Highway 17 all the way to the by-pass.
“Obviously we’re pushing for re-alignment to the north through sections two and three,” Giguere said following his deputation to Kenora city council Thursday afternoon.
“Safety primarily is one (issue) and the environment obviously is one as well. So we’re putting it on the table and trying to gain support for it for all the right reasons.”
Giguere says the new highway could be used for trucks and other commercial vehicle traffic, while the original Highway 17 west would still be used to access local roads in the area.
Environmentally, he says the northern route would keep the new twinned highway away from Lake of the Woods.
He adds that the Ministry of Transportation is expected to get feedback on the new route at a public information session next month.
“We expect the consultants to be out in early July. That’s the indication, but we’re waiting for an announcement. They’ll be seeking input from the community and from interested stakeholders at the public information center, whenever they have it.”
Giguere says they don’t know how much more the northern route might cost, but suggests that you can’t put a price on safety.
Keep Highway 17 North has been around since 2010 when twinning Highway 17 was first announced.
