Province funding bridge construction and partnership for Nipissing First Nation announced

The province is investing $12-million to replace the Duchesnay Creek Bridge on Highway 17B in North Bay.

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli says the project includes about a kilometre of paving, replacement of the bridge and removal of a bridge that crosses over an abandoned CN rail line.

Nipissing First Nation chief Scott McLeod says they’ve partnered with Miller Paving to do the work.

He says this is the beginning of a long term arrangement.

“It’s going to allow us to be competitive in the market of road construction and provide those opportunities for meaningful careers for some of our membership,” he says.

Work starts this summer and will be completed in the fall of 2020.

Fedeli says the Nipissing First Nation wants to be part of the economic scene in the area and this project brings them up a notch.

He says the project is very unique.

“It’s the last timber bridge remaining in Ontario. Due to the fact it’s a heritage bridge the new bridge will be built with timber girders and wooden decorative pieces. It promises to be a very exciting project,” Fedeli says.