The Ontario government is planning to introduce legislation to accelerate the widening of Highway 69 between Sudbury and Parry Sound.
According to officials, if passed, the Building Highway 69 Faster Act will enable the province to complete the widening project up to five years ahead of schedule by streamlining the environmental approvals process.
“People in northern Ontario have waited long enough for a safer, more reliable Highway 69, and our government is taking action to get it built faster,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “By cutting unnecessary red tape, we are accelerating construction by up to five years, improving road safety for drivers and strengthening a vital economic corridor and connection between northern Ontario and the rest of the province.”
If passed, officials say the proposed legislation would establish a project-specific environmental assessment framework that builds on the environmental work already completed to support the Highway 69 expansion project. This would allow eligible work to proceed sooner, while maintaining environmental oversight and fulfilling the province’s duty to consult with Indigenous communities.
“For families, workers and businesses in our communities, Highway 69 is more than a transportation route – it’s an essentialn connection that people rely on every day,” said Parry Sound Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith. “Our government is taking action to cut red tape and accelerate this long-awaired expansion, improving road safety and supporting jobs across the region.”
Smith said that he plans to continue working closely with the Minister of Transportation, local First Nation chiefs, and municipal leaders to ensure our communities’ voices are heard and this important project continues to move forward.
To date, Ontario has completed 84 kilometres of widening on Highway 69. The proposed legislation will help accelerate the remaining 68 kilometres of widening, supporting shovels in the ground as early as next year.
