Northern Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government has increased annual funding for the province’s Winter Roads Program to $13 million, aiming to support remote northern communities that depend on the seasonal routes for essential travel and goods.
The money will go toward building and maintaining nearly 3,200 kilometres of winter roads that serve about 24,000 people in 32 remote First Nations and the Town of Moosonee. These ice and snow routes typically open for six to 11 weeks between late January and March.
This year, $8 million will be directed to local partners to build and operate the roads, while another $5 million will flow through the program’s Bridges and Culverts Stream to install pre-engineered crossings and repair existing structures. The province says the work will improve safety and keep supplies moving.
“Winter roads are a lifeline for northern communities that keep people connected and help local businesses move goods and supplies,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth, in a news release.
Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria added the investment ties into broader infrastructure spending in the North, including nearly $600 million for highways, roads and bridges in 2025.
Ontario’s winter roads network is the largest of its kind in Canada, linking isolated communities to all-season roads and enabling the transport of food, fuel, construction materials and medical supplies. Residents also use the routes to attend cultural and sporting events and travel for health care and family visits.
The province has also earmarked $16 million through the 2025-26 Connecting Links program for repairs to municipal roads and bridges in Northern Ontario.