A lot of traffic passes through Vankleek Hill each day along Highway 34/High Street. The road is the main connector between Highway 417/Trans-Canada Highway and Hawkesbury, The Long Sault Bridge, and Autoroute 50 in Québec. According to the most recent average daily traffic count data from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, an average of 9,000 vehicles per day traveled the section of road between Highway 417 and County Road 17 in 2021.
The Highway 34 interchange on Highway 417 is the only full interchange that gives traffic travelling in both directions on Highway 417 access to Vankleek Hill and Hawkesbury. Eastbound traffic on Highway 417 must use Highway 34 because there is no exit from eastbound Highway 417 to County Road 17 at the junction near Chute-à-Blondeau. The interchange has been that way since it was constructed in 1971.
The Review contacted the Ministry of Transportation and asked if there was any possibility of the Highway 417/County Road 17 connection being upgraded to a full interchange allowing eastbound traffic to exit 417 there and reach Hawkesbury without passing through Vankleek Hill.
That upgrade is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
“The ministry is not considering a full interchange at this time,” said Julia Caslin of the Ministry of Transportation.
Caslin said the ministry will continue to monitor traffic volumes and the operations of the interchange.
Planning for paving
Drivers along Highway 34 may have noticed surveyors working beside the highway lately. According to Caslin, the surveyors are preparing for a future pavement rehabilitation project on the highway.
Caslin said the detailed design for the pavement rehabilitation project on Highway 34 will begin later this year.
