Provincial funding coming for northern infrastructure

The Ontario government is investing $10.7 million into the Bridges and Culverts funding stream of its Winter Roads Program.

The money will go towards a series of bridge and culvert projects to expand road networks for First Nations in the northwest.

“In remote northern communities, a reliable winter transportation network is key to boosting economic growth and connecting residents to the goods and services they need,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “Building a reliable winter roads network in the North is one more way our government is supporting stronger, more resilient and self-reliant communities.”

The new funds will go towards the following projects:

• $4,127,962 to Wawakapewin First Nation to complete designs, purchase and install four modular bridges at water crossings on the winter road that connects Kasabonika Lake First Nation and Wawakapewin First Nation.
• $3,191,190 to Windigo First Nations Council to buy and install two modular bridges at the Meen River and Dobie River crossing sites on the Cat Lake – Pickle Lake winter road network.
• $2,909,394 to Matawa First Nations Management for upgrades to the Matawa 808 winter road network, which includes installing two bridges on the Eabametoong and Nibinamik winter roads and performing technical studies required for future bridge installations on the Webequie, Nibinamik and Eabametoong winter roads.
• $307,857 to Neskantaga First Nation to install 15 cross-drainage culverts along the Otoskwin River Road to reduce flooding and make it easier to access the Otoskwin River crossing site.
• $250,000 to Windigo First Nations Council to finish engineering and geotechnical work, enabling the future installation of water crossing infrastructure on the Four First Nations Group winter road network.