After many years of redesign and debate among local politicians and the public, the Highway 34 and County Road 17 interchange is again up for discussion in Hawkesbury. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and be completed in 2029.
A second in-person Public Information Centre (PIC) will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 472 at 152 Nelson Street East in Hawkesbury. The original plans were revealed at the first PIC back in May 2024.
The PIC on October 17, 2024, will present the evaluation of alternatives and the preferred technical alternative.
It was determined that significant components of the interchange project would include the replacement of the bridge structures that have reached the end of their usable service life, modifications to County Road 17 and Highway 34 interchange with the eastbound off-ramp and westbound on-ramp and road closures to complete the work effectively and as efficiently as possible. The bridges were originally constructed in 1955 and represent a major part of the aging infrastructure in Hawkesbury requiring replacement.
Plans to reconstruct the bridges on County Road 17 in Hawkesbury were previously announced in winter 2019 by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). The MTO has contracted Dillon Consulting Limited and Jacobs to conduct the Preliminary Design and Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) to re-evaluate and confirm the preferred design for the larger project.
Both Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Member of Provincial Parliament Stéphane Sarrazin and Mayor of Hawkesbury Robert Lefebvre had previously voiced concerns about the MTO’s findings that the traffic volumes no longer warranted the present ramp configuration.
Public and community members are encouraged to attend the PIC on October 17 to become more informed about the proposed project and have their input heard. After completing the TESR and public and Indigenous community consultations, the results will be available on the listed project website: www.cr17bridges.com. A 30-day public comment period will then commence, allowing for additional comments and feedback from the community in winter 2025 if current timelines are followed.
