MP confident Trans-Canada Highway will finally be twinned west of Kenora, Ont.

There'srenewed hopethe Trans-Canada Highway will finally be twinned from the Manitoba-Ontario border to Kenora, Ont.

Nearly a decade after the project was announced, Ontario's Ministry of Transportation hosteda public meetinglast month about turning the dangerous, two-lane stretch of Highway 17 into a divided, four-lane road.

The routehas seen many crashes and closures over the years.

MP Bob Nault(Liberal-Kenora) is confident agreen light for the project is imminent.

"I really do believe we're within striking range of getting this goingthis summer or in the fall," he said.

Nault says it's up to the Ontario government to apply for funding, but he expects an application will be made shortly, likely through thefederal transportation fund.

Governments on board

"I'm very confident now because all the governmentsstarting with the First Nation governments,the provincial government who has jurisdiction for this, and the federal government through myself as the local MPvery much see this as a top priority for the region."

The new Ontario government led by Premier Doug Ford decidedto study the project this year, after it wasgrounded almost 10 years ago.

An environmental assessment isunderway for the westernmostsectionof the 40-kilometre roadway, which represents the only west-eastcorridorbetween the provinces.

WSP Canada Group Ltd., the firm enlisted to study the project, is currently seeking input from the public through their website.

Area chiefs signed an agreement in October to voice their shared concerns and interests on the project.

Naultsays Highway 17can be dangerous with fast-moving traffic and a steady volume of semi-trailers, so addressingsafety is a topconcern.

"We've had a lot of accidents and a lot of shutdowns of this road over the years," Nault said."It's our only major highway connecting east and west, connecting us to health care in Manitoba if we need it."

During hiselection campaign, Ford described driving down the road as terrifyingwhen it's pitch dark outside and a transport truck is approaching fromthe opposite direction.

Nault believes twinning the highway will lead to economic benefits, encouraging tourists to take the road and boosting the flow of commerce. It's expected the speed limit would be boosted to 100 km/h from 90 km/h.

"We want to do more business. We want more people moving to the Kenoraarea for tourism," he said. "We think that this is the natural next step."

Naultalso expects more cottage development east of Kenorabecause it wouldbe quicker and easier to get there, and he anticipates Manitoba would profitfrom more motorists travelling to the province.

"When you start reducing the time, it makes a difference on the interest of people of being here," he said.

The current plan is to start twinning a6.5-kilometre stretch of Highway 17, between the provincial border and Highway 673,next year, before eventually reaching the turnoff toKenora.