Highway 11-17 four-laning.

Highway travel along a portion of the Inorth shore of Lake Superior will be more expeditious and safer in the years to come with the completion of the four-laning of Highway 11-17 and construction of a new bridge over the Nipigon River.

The 100-kilometre stretch between Nip-igon and Thunder Bay is a critical link in the Trans-Canada highway chain, said Annemarie Piscopo, the Ministry of Transportation's communications coordinator.

Though vehicle traffic varies along the route, the roadway handles about 4,400 vehicles daily, of which 30 per cent is commercial traffic.

Should a major accident, natural disaster or infrastructure loss ever occur, a four-lane highway can serve as a viable detour. "Trans-continental, regional and local traffic rely heavily on this highway," said Piscopo. "There is no alternative route within the province for Trans-Canada traffic on Highway 11-17 between Thunder Bay and Nipigon."

Since work began in 2010, the price tag for the 74 kilometres of road either completed, under construction or approved for upcoming work is $512 million, and the project has provided jobs for 5,000.

So far, two sections of highway, totalling 20 kilometres have been completed. A third section of 13 kilometres will be completed this fall. The ministry said two sections are currently being tendered, representing 18 kilometres.

With 30 kilometres of highway to go, the budget for upcoming sections is set when each project is approved for design and construction.

Two more sections, totalling 19 kilometres, were approved in the Ontario government's spring budget and are starting detailed design.

The remaining sections of about 30 kilometres will be scheduled, designed, and constructed once they are approved, said Piscopo.

The highway improvements will follow a combination of following the existing route with two-lane twinning to the north and south of existing two lanes, as well as carving out an entirely new alignment.

Piscopo said the highway cross-section in most areas provides for an important safety feature with a 30-metre depressed median between eastbound and westbound traffic.

When the entire four-lane highway expansion between Thunder Bay and Nipigon is complete, there will be 14 new bridges and one new interchange at Hodder Avenue in Thunder Bay.

The main contractors involved in the highway widening have been Teranorth Construction from Sudbury, Toronto's Aecon Group, and LH North from Murillo.

The main consulting firms are Hatch Mott...