Ontario seeks faster completion of Highway 69 widening

Ontario plans to introduce the Building Highway 69 Faster Act to speed up widening between Parry Sound and Sudbury by streamlining the project’s environmental assessment process. The bill has not yet been passed.

• Potential time saved: Up to five years.
• Work remaining: 68 kilometres, divided into six sections; four sections are expected to be under construction by the end of 2027.
• Progress so far: 84 kilometres have been widened.
• Next steps: Construction could begin as early as next year. Ontario is also asking the federal government to expedite outstanding approvals, including for watercourse crossings and CN rail relocation.

The proposed framework would build on environmental work already completed, maintain environmental oversight and fulfill the province’s duty to consult Indigenous communities.