The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has retained Hatch Ltd to complete the detail design study and environmental assessment for the realignment of a 3.8 km segment of Highway 17 and the replacement of the Hewitson Creek culvert.
A 3.8 km segment of Highway 17 will be realigned south of the Hydro transmission corridor and north of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) railway tracks. A new Hewitson Creek culvert will be installed along the new highway alignment. A new access road and parking area will be constructed at Rainbow Falls Provincial Park. The existing highway will be decommissioned, including the removal of the existing Hewitson Creek culvert.
​
MTO completed the planning and preliminary design study for the project in October 2021, which included the Notice of Completion of a Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR). For work impacting Rainbow Falls Provincial Park, MECP / Ontario Parks filed a Statement of Completion in October 2022 for the requirements under the Class EA for Provincial Parks and Conservations Reserves (2004).
​
The Design and Construction Report (DCR) has been prepared to document the environmental assessment process completed including how commitments identified in the approved TESR and environmental protection measures, have been addressed during detail design.
The DCR is available for a 30-day public comment period, between Tuesday November 12, 2024 and Friday December 13, 2024.
A copy of the DCR is available for review from the DCR Download tab at the top of this page or by clicking HERE.
​
Please review further project information within the provided links located at the top of the project website.