‘It’s ridiculous’: Residents seek answers on Highway 69 delays

Dozens of community members packed the Royal Canadian Legion in Britt for a public information session Thursday night, hoping to learn why the vital four-laning of Highway 69 has been delayed for nearly two decades.

“We’ve been up here 20 years, and it was on the table 20 years ago and it’s still not done,” said Britt resident Pauline Anderson.

“A couple of months ago, we had a guy crash into our driveway. It’s dangerous.”

Another area resident, Carole Laframboise, echoed that frustration.

“I know a few people who have been killed, and yes, I’ve had close calls,” she said.

“We have plans. Yes, from 2008, and nothing’s been done, and it’s ridiculous.”

The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Transportation and engineering firm Parsons to unveil new design proposals.

Promises made, but no shovels in the ground

The current stagnation stands in stark contrast to political promises made. During a visit to Sudbury in October 2024, Premier Doug Ford vowed to fast-track the project.

But a year and a half after those words were spoken, locals say they see plenty of paperwork but no progress.

The 20-kilometre stretch through Henvey Inlet First Nation is part of a 68-kilometre undivided, two-lane bottleneck remaining between French River and Parry Sound.

“It’s a lot of hearsay,” said another local, Art Aitchison.

“Let me promise you this, and I promise you that. But, they don’t come through.”

‘Every single year I’m terrified’

For those driving the corridor daily, the delays are not just an inconvenience but a safety crisis.

Lisa Aho travelled from Sudbury to the meeting and said she often feels nervous taking the highway.

“Every single year I’m terrified to drive this part of the highway,” she said.

“And every single year I’ve been taking a look to find out if there has been movement and there hasn’t been.”

Aho’s son’s friend’s parents were killed in a head-on collision in April. She has since launched a petition that has garnered 10,000 signatures.

“When that tragic accident happened, it shifted my focus in a fundamental way,” she said.

“My son’s friend is at my house all the time and he no longer has parents. It’s affected my own son. I’m hoping that with the public saying that they want it done, that there can be progress.”

The public session was called to review three new proposals for the Bekanon Road interchange near the SN Gas Station – a 20-kilometre stretch through Henvey Inlet First Nation that was last up for public review in 2008. Officials also revealed long-term plans to eventually raise the speed limit from 100 to 110 kilometres per hour once construction is complete.

“I sell my woodworking and stuff that I make at SN convenience,” said Sharissa Ruggles at the event.

“So that intersection that’s there – when you see everything that happens, and not having a turning lane, and people swerving.”

Fire chief warns response times could grow

David Marlin, the Britt and Area Fire Chief, said he is in favour of the four-laning of Highway 69 but has concerns.

“Our big concern is the 40 minutes to an hour that this could add to our response onto the highway,” Marlin said.

“And every year, we’re seeing more and more collisions.”

The department covers from Pointe Au Baril to the French River bridge and sometimes responds to calls in Parry Sound.

Marlin told CTV News that last year alone, his department responded to 47 serious motor-vehicle collisions.

“Just getting us to the highway is a huge importance. There is no other location. There is no other fire department,” he said.

“We’re a volunteer department. Every second, every minute matters.”

No timeline, but political blame game continues

Despite showcasing new designs, officials offered no concrete timeline for when construction might actually begin. Both the MTO and Parsons refused on-camera interviews at the event, directing media inquiries to their Toronto offices.

“They are redoing the environmental assessment, which means that they have to let people know,” said Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas.

“But the work has been done. We need the political will to put shovel to the ground and get this done.”

Meanwhile, Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith defended the pace.

“It’s not just the government controlling the timeline here, because we are having conversations with multiple parties and we want to make sure there’s a level of satisfaction moving forward,” he said.

Smith said this week he met with the premier as well as the chiefs of Shawanaga and Magnetawan First Nations, two out of three of the impacted First Nations.

“I think we’re all for the four-laning. I don’t think there’s any dispute there,” said Graydon Smith.

“Everybody wants to see the same thing happen.”

Public feedback on the newly proposed designs will be collected until June 18. However, with an additional environmental review and a detailed design phase still required before a contractor can even be hired, local residents remain a long way away from seeing shovels hit the dirt.

CTV News reached out to the Ministry of Transportation on Thursday morning in advance of the town hall and received a response on Friday indicating that the town hall was to share updates and receive feedback.

The ministry’s response stopped short of commenting on a timeline.