I have some concerns with…

I have some concerns with the proposed route going west of Shabaqua, along Hwy 11 and Hwy 71. I can appreciate there is much less traffic on this route for potential cyclists to contend with, however there are also a lot of benefits of making Hwy 17 the primary route along this corridor. The first, and most obvious reason, is that the Hwy 17 route is about 80 km shorter, and already has fully paved shoulders along much of it, making it the much less costly option by several million dollars. Fully paved shoulders are also known to increase pavement life and reduce maintenance demands, meaning longer periods between paving contracts along the main route across the province and less disruptions to traffic. There are also more communities along the Hwy 17 route that potential cyclists would likely be interested in visiting in their travels, such as Upsala, Igance, Dryden, and Vermillion Bay. I believe that even if the shoulders are upgraded for cyclists along the Hwy 11 and 71 route, most cyclists will still choose the Hwy 17 route for these reasons - I know I would.

I'm also curious why the route would go up Hwy 17A and then down Airport Rd through Kenora? There is less traffic and a shorter route starting at Hwy 17 from the east junction of Hwy 17A. The southerly route along Hwy 17 is also much more scenic for cyclists looking to enjoy the sights of northwestern Ontario.

[Original Comment ID: 209335]