TORONTO — The Ontario government has announced it is investing more than $10.7 million through the Winter Roads Program, Bridges and Culverts Stream over the next two years to build and upgrade water-crossing infrastructure across the winter roads network in the North.
According to a release, the funding stream supports building and installing culverts and modular bridges to improve safety across the entire winter roads network, and works towards extending the roads’ season.
The funding breakdown is as follows:
- $4.12 million 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.
- $3.19 million 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.
- $2.9 million 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.
This investment is in addition to the $8 million the government has provided through the Winter Roads Program to help 32 remote First Nation communities and the Town of Moosonee build and operate approximately 3,200 kilometres of temporary winter roads, the release adds.
