Investing over $4.9 Million for Highway and Road Repairs in Dryden and Fort Frances

May 22, 2024

Ontario’s Connecting Links Program to build and rehabilitate vital transit corridors in the North

DRYDEN & FORT FRANCES – The Ontario government is investing $4,909,250 for highway and road repairs in Dryden and Fort Frances. The funding is being delivered through the Connecting Links program, which helps maintain vital roads and bridges that connect people to good jobs, support the movement of goods and drives economic growth in Northern and rural communities.

This funding will help repair the following transit corridors:

  • $1,207,008 for the reconstruction of Highway 594 Easterly from Gordon Road in Dryden
  • $2,070,048 for the reconstruction of Third Street West from Central Avenue to York Avenue in Fort Frances
  • $1,632,194 for the reconstruction of Scott Street from Reid Avenue to Mosher Avenue in Fort Frances

“Our investment of nearly $5 million in the City of Dryden and the Town of Fort Frances demonstrates our commitment to reliable road infrastructure, keeping families across the Northwest safe,” said Greg Rickford, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kenora – Rainy River and Minister of Northern Development. “Northern municipal partners know that they can count on our government for supportive initiatives like the Connecting Links program to keep their communities safe and connected for generations to come.”

A connecting link is a designated municipal road or bridge that connects two ends of a provincial highway through a community, or to an international border crossing. This year, the Ontario government is investing $30 million in 21 projects to repair roads and bridges in 19 municipalities across the province.

“On behalf of the City of Dryden, I wish to thank the Ministry of Transportation for the funding to reconstruct a portion of Hwy 594. This section is an important roadway, as it’s the final stretch connecting Dryden with the Rainy River District and the U.S.A.,” said Mayor Jack Harrison, City of Dryden. “In addition, I would like to thank Minister Rickford for his unwavering support for community projects such as this one.”

“The Town of Fort Frances is grateful to the Ford Government, Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, and Minister Greg Rickford for providing over $1.6 million in funding to reconstruct part of Scott Street, and another $2 million to reconstruct Third St W between Central Avenue and York Avenue,” said Mayor Andrew Hallikas, Town of Fort Frances. “This Connecting Links funding will allow the Town of Fort Frances to proceed with much needed reconstruction of some our infrastructure and is indicative of the provincial government’s commitment to small rural Northern communities.”

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is investing a historic $27 billion over the next decade to build and repair roads, highways and bridges,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “We will continue to support our municipal partners to ensure we build a better, stronger Ontario that leaves no community behind.”

Eligible costs for Connecting Links include the design, construction, renewal, rehabilitation and replacement of designated municipal roads and bridges. Municipalities are encouraged to apply for 2025–26 Connecting Links program funding when the intake opens later this year.

QUICK FACTS

  • In Ontario, there are a total of 352 kilometres of connecting links, with 70 bridges in 77 municipalities.
  • The Connecting Links program provides funding for up to 90 per cent of eligible project costs. This includes a maximum of $3 million for road projects and $5 million for bridge projects. 

LEARN MORE

Connecting Links Program