| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ontario Government is Fast Tracking Highway 11 Expansion
to Encourage Northern Ontario Prosperity
The Government of Ontario has devised a road map for northern prosperity
which includes encouraging Canadian tourism, economic growth and improving
safety. This will be enforced as the Northern Ontario Highways Strategy,
a record $1.8-billion, multi-year plan for highway improvements and expansion
in Northern Ontario is implemented.
Sundridge, Ontario (PRWeb) May 7, 2007 -- The Government of Ontario has
devised a road map for northern prosperity which includes encouraging
Canadian tourism, economic growth and improving safety. This will be enforced
as the Northern Ontario Highways Strategy, a record $1.8-billion, multi-year
plan for highway improvements and expansion in Northern Ontario is implemented.
The strategy will see that investment in northern highway infrastructure
increases by nearly 40 percent over five years. In addition, the government
projects that the Northern Ontario Highways Strategy will support economic
growth and development as it creates 45,000 jobs across the province and
plays a pivotal role in the economic prosperity of the entire province,
but especially in the north where more than $32 billon in natural resources
and other products are produced and shipped each year.
Over the next five years, the Ontario government will invest $700 million
to expand northern highways to improve safety and efficiency and boost
economic development. Fifty-four new bridges and 62 kilometres of new
roadway will be added. Furthermore, $1.1 billion will be spent over the
next five years on the repair and upkeep of over 2,000 kilometres of existing
highways and 200 bridges.
Eleven million tourists visited Northern Ontario in 2003 and spent nearly
$1.7 billion. With improved Ontario highway conditions and an enhanced
highway system, the trip north will be made both faster and safer, and
these numbers are expected to continue to rise.
One community that has already begun to feel the positive economic benefits
of the Northern Ontario Highways Strategy is the tourist area of Almaguin
Highlands, also known as Muskoka North. Located approximately two and
a half hours north of Metropolitan Toronto, a few miles north of the town
of Huntsville on Highway 11, Muskoka North has become a viable alternative
to the over-priced and over-crowded "Old Muskoka." With the
final phase of regional improvements to Highway 11 well under way, increasing
the highway from two lanes to four, some Muskoka-bound tourists have already
begun to travel a little further north.
In a recent interview, Brenda and Michael Piraino, the owners of Northridge
Inn and Resort (http://www.northridgeinn.com), a popular lakeside resort
on Lake Bernard, close to the town of Sundridge in the Almaguin Highlands,
commented on how important ease of access is to their resort customers.
"Many of our customers are professionals from urban centres with
little time to get away, and when they do have the time, they don't want
to spend it all in their vehicles. Tourist based businesses like ours
who rely on customers from the GTA will definitely benefit from the improvements
to Highway 11," states Michael Piraino.
The Almaguin Highlands, a region of untouched wilderness and crystal-clear
lakes, has already witnessed large increases in land values, particularly
lakefront real estate. Still, real estate prices are extremely reasonable,
especially when compared to the prices in Old Muskoka. However, this may
be changing. Brenda and Michael Piraino believe that investors have already
become aware of just what a bargain North Muskoka real estate is and are
buying up properties on speculation. "Just recently we sold two lakefront
lots at full asking price. These properties were sold even before all
severance approvals and rezoning had been completed. The real estate market
in North Muskoka is definitely heating up," reports Brenda Piraino.
With the Northern Ontario Highway Strategy's improvements to Highway
11 in the North Muskoka area shortening the drive from Metropolitan Toronto,
the beautiful Almaguin Highlands with its reasonable land prices and easy
access from the GTA is poised to become the "New Muskoka."
Northridge Inn & Resort, located close to the town of Sundridge in
the Almaguin Highlands, on the south shore of beautiful Lake Bernard,
is a fabulous choice for a lakeside resort vacation. Recently voted one
of the "Top Ten Inn/Resort Destinations in Ontario" according
to Toronto Life Magazine, Northridge Inn & Resort is a full service
resort that offers its guests luxurious accommodations in a pristine wilderness
setting. For more information, please visit http://www.northridgeinn.com
or call Michael & Brenda Piraino at 705-384-2252.
400ELEVEN PUblishers Comment
The Highway 11 Highway north in to traditional cottage country locations
will help improve travelling times for visitors heading into Northern
Ontario north Muskoka. We encourage all visitors to check road & weather
conditions prior to heading out and to maintain a proactive safe driving
style.
|
Click
here or more information on Tourism
and Travel in Ontario North
of Toronto
Latest Ontario Travel & Tourism
News
|
