Decades-long fight to four-lane Highway 69 finally nears the end of the road: Feds drop $169 million to twin a 30-kilometre section of northeastern Ontario highway.

• Author: Macdonald, Darren
• Position: NEWS

When Rick Bartolucci was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1995, one of the first causes he took up was four-laning Highway 69.

On May 21, nearly a quarter-century later, the former Sudbury MPP and provincial cabinet minister was on hand when the federal government announced it was providing $169.2 million to complete two key stretches of the project totalling 30 kilometres. When complete, there will be roughly 38 kilometres of the highway that still needs to be four-laned.

Highway 69 is a major north-south arterial highway connecting northeastern Ontario with southern Ontario beginning at Highway 400 at Parry Sound. It is part of the Trans-Canada Highway system.

The first commitment to four-laning of the notoriously dangerous road came in 1991, under the one-term government of former NDP Premier Bob Rae. But when Mike Harris' Progressive Conservatives I took power in 1995, the plan was delayed indefinitely.

Newly elected as Sudbury MPP at the I time, Bartolucci and Sudbury businessman Gerry Lougheed Jr. helped launched the I Crash 69 committee, which lobbied relentlessly for the project. It included billboards and licence plate bumper stickers that read, '4-LANE-69'.

A decade later, in June 2005, Bartolucci and then-Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty announced plans to four-lane the area between Parry Sound and Sudbury. By the time the Liberals were voted out last June, the province had spent about $900 million, with 68 kilometres still to go.

With budget constraints and other priorities, there were concerns the new Progressive Conservative government would put the project on the backburner. That's why the May 21 announcement was so important, the former Liberal cabinet minister said.

"It's obviously good news for our community," a beaming Bartolucci said. "It's a tangible sign that all levels of government understand the importance of completing Highway 69. And we have to honestly praise the two representatives because it's not easy getting $169 million."

The first project involves twinning and realigning an 11-km stretch of road from north of Highway 559 to just south of Shebeshekong Road. Work also involves constructing a new interchange at Woods Road, building new service roads to improve access for local drivers, and installing 14 culverts and 22 kilometres of fencing to protect wildlife.

The second project involves expanding a 19.3-km section of the highway to a four-lane, divided highway, including new twin bridges over Still...