This page will be updated throughout the study process.  Answers to commonly asked questions will be added to this page as they are received.

If you have questions that do not appear on this page, please Contact Us.

Q1.      What is the purpose of this study?

Ultimately, the long-term vision for the Shabaqua Highway is a four-lane, fully controlled-access highway from Thunder Bay to the junction known as Shabaqua Corners.

The purpose of this study is to identify and designate property for the ultimate future four-lane divided controlled access Highway 11/17 between Kakabeka Falls and Shabaqua Corners. The four-laning of Highway 11/17 will improve highway safety by separating eastbound and westbound traffic by a wide median, providing safe passing opportunities, and removing vehicle conflicts associated with at-grade intersections.

The study includes carrying out an environmental assessment in accordance with the Class environmental approvals, identifying a range of corridor and route alternatives, and developing preliminary interchange and access alternatives. At the completion of the study, a Preferred Route will be selected and designated (protected).

Q2.      How does the environmental assessment process work?

Route planning for this Highway 11/17 Study will follow a detailed environmental assessment process. The process is outlined in the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities (MTO, 2000), which has been approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act for this type of study. This study is following the Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) process for Group ‘A’ projects, which includes major realignments and by-passes to existing provincial highways and freeways.

Q3.      What about the gap in Highway 11/17 between Vibert Road and Kakabeka?

A preferred corridor has been designated and protected from Vibert Road to Kakabeka Falls under a previous study undertaken in the late 1970’s.

Q4.      When is the study expected to be completed and when will construction start?

Completion of the route planning is scheduled for the spring of 2011. Typically, route planning studies are undertaken 10 to 25 years in advance of actual construction.

Q5.    What corridor alternatives will be examined?

Corridor Alternatives were developed and presented at PIC 1. The corridors include sections of new highway alignment, sections of “twinning” and combinations of these two. A new alignment section means building four new lanes (two for northbound traffic and two for southbound traffic) on a new alignment that is different from the existing highway alignment. A “twinning” section means using the existing two-lane highway for one direction of travel (i.e. either northbound or southbound) and building two new lanes adjacent to the existing highway to accommodate traffic in the opposite direction.

Q6.    How will people be advised about information on this study?

Q7.    Will the route planning study consider the impacts a new highway alignment will have on business located along the existing Highway 11/17 in Kakabeka Falls?

The study will consider the full range of social, economic and environmental impacts, including land use. Public Information Centres will provide an opportunity for the public, including businesses and municipalities, to review and provide comments during the planning process.

Q8.    Will access to private property be required during the study?

Stantec and its subconsultants will require access to some private property to undertake field investigation work in support of the study. In these locations, permission to enter will be requested from the property owners.

Q9.    Why isn’t the Ministry four-laning Highway 102 instead of going ahead with the Highway 11/17 New (Shabaqua Highway)?

A previous Route Planning Study considered several options of expanding the Highway 102 corridor as an alternative to expanding Highway 11/17 between Sistonens Corners and Thunder Bay. The Highway 102 options were removed from further consideration because the traffic analysis indicated that improving the Highway 102 corridor would not attract a high volume of traffic, and that four-laning of Highway 11/17 would still be required in the future.

Q10.    Are there improvements planned for Highway 102?

Improvements to existing Highway 102 are proposed under the ministry’s Northern Highway Program (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/highway-construction/northern-highway-2007/nhp-en.pdf) as a separate study.

Q11.    Will I be allowed to sell my property if the designated corridor is contained within my property?

Property owners may sell their property at any time.

Q12.    How soon will the ministry initiate the property acquisition process for the lands required for the new four-lane divided highway?

Generally, the ministry will not initiate the property acquisition process until the project is approved for construction. Typically, route planning studies are undertaken 10 to 25 years in advance of actual construction.

To view the MTO pamphlet containing information regarding the highway property purchasing process, click here.

Q13.    Will I be allowed to undertake development to my property if the designated right of way is contained within or adjacent to my property?

Development within and adjacent to the designated corridor will be controlled in accordance with the ministry’s policies and controlled access highway criteria under the authority of the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act. Development on these properties is controlled through the issuance of permits, including conditions, if necessary to control development.