The federal and Ontario government need to make twinning the Trans-Canada Highway through northern Ontario a nation-building project.

That’s according to the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.

NOMA has joined the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities in a call to four-lane Highway 17 and 11.

Fred Mota is the NOMA Executive Vice-President calls this an important project.

“The Trans-Canada is essential to both the North and the entire country,” says Mota.

“NOMA strongly supports FONOM’s efforts and calls on governments to work with municipalities, industry, and local leaders to move this project forward. Together, we can ensure safer highways, stronger communities, and long-term economic growth for all Canadians.”

The municipal organizations say much of the highways in this region are single laned, and that’s contributing to more road closures, collisions and fatalities.

FONOM has suggested selective twinning, four-lane expansion, and 2+1 highway models.

NOMA and FONOM are calling on the upper levels of government to make a generational investment into improving our highways.