Cochrane calling for better communication on Highway 11 closures

Local Journalism Initiative

May 30, 2024 at 3:55 p.m.·2 min read

COCHRANE - Frustration over communication about Highway 11 closures has Cochrane lobbying for change.

The town is sending a letter to Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner calling for better communication when the highway is closed.

Mayor Peter Politis said the safety of people living in municipalities along Highway 11 is paramount when there are closures. He said something needs to be done.

“The end game obviously is to have a properly thought out, formal protocol with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ministry of Transportation and the municipalities all coordinated together,” Politis said at a May 28 meeting.

The town has met with Bernie Derible, Deputy Minister and Commissioner of Emergency Measures, three times regarding the protocol concerns. It was also noted that this past winter there were two road closures where Cochrane and other Highway 11 municipalities weren’t notified. After the letter is sent, having resources to help during closures is the next step.

Highway 11 forms part of the TransCanada Highway. When it’s closed, it impacts businesses, emergency services and the public, highlights the town in its letter.

The letter calls for better communication and co-ordination between the OPP — who is responsible for managing the highway closures — and other partners.

The suggestions include timely updates on the closure status, the expected duration, and any alternative routes or detours available to the public. It recommends having the Northeastern Ontario Municipal Association (NEOMA) lead the communication between all the partners about applying the potential new protocol.

Concerns surrounding the safety of Highway 11 and other Northern Ontario highways have been at the forefront for years.

Earlier this year, a survey conducted by the Ontario Trucking Association, with nearly 700 respondents, resulted in truck drivers identifying unsafe passing by other vehicles as a key issue impacting safety on Highways 11 and 17.

In February, James Bay OPP shared dash cam footage that captured a vehicle on Highway 11 narrowly missing a head-on crash with a transport making a dangerous pass.

The full letter can be read here.

Marissa Lentz, Local Journalism Initiative, TimminsToday.com

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