Northern Ontario Construction News staff writer
Northern Mayors Push Province for Action on Highway Washouts
WAWA — Northern Ontario’s municipal leaders say their communities can no longer afford to be cut off by unpredictable weather, and they’re calling on the provincial government to develop a stronger strategy to prevent extended highway closures.
The Northeast Superior Mayors Group, which represents communities along the Highway 17 corridor, is urging Ontario’s Minister of Transportation to improve infrastructure resiliency and speed up highway reopening procedures following flooding and other climate-related damage.
The call follows two recent shutdowns of Highway 17 in Lake Superior Provincial Park, where washouts temporarily severed the region’s only major east-west transportation link.
“These disruptions don’t just inconvenience drivers—they isolate entire communities,” said Melanie Pilon, mayor of Wawa. “We need reliable alternate routes and faster response times. A winter-style emergency plan isn’t enough anymore.”
The group is asking the province to not only repair highways more quickly but also proactively invest in maintenance and upgrades—especially on lesser-used roads that could serve as detours during closures.
In a formal letter, the mayors requested a meeting with Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria to discuss long-term solutions, including updated closure protocols and climate adaptation planning for the North’s critical transportation infrastructure.
The Northeast Superior Mayors Group includes elected officials from Wawa, White River, Dubreuilville, Hornepayne, Manitouwadge and Marathon. The group says the region’s vulnerability to isolation during natural disasters makes reliable road access a matter of public safety.
Highway 17, part of the Trans-Canada Highway, is the only continuous road route through this part of Ontario.