The communities of Yellek and Duchesnay are getting a new and vital road.
Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota announced funding for the road that will run between the two communities, on behalf of Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development.
The Government of Canada is investing $3,308,714 in the project through the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Province of Ontario will contribute $808,650, with the Nipissing First Nation contributing $294,255 to the project.
“Connecting our communities brings us together. This investment will enable the people who live in Yellek and Duchesnay to have better access to critical services and improve community safety,” said Rota. “It is wonderful to work with Nipissing First Nation to create this $3.3-million investment in community infrastructure.”
The road will run 2.1 kilometres and feature shoulders, pedestrian walkways and two culverts. The road is expected to improve access for residents to community amenities, provide a safer transportation route than the highway, and enable faster emergency vehicle response.
“We are very pleased that this funding from the Government of Canada will allow us to proceed with connecting the communities of Duchesnay and Yellek,” Chief of Nipissing First Nation Scott McLeod said.
“In 2015, our citizens identified this linkage as a priority to address safety concerns stemming from both communities having only one access point. This critical new infrastructure will also open up land for development and lead to more centralized services to improve the quality of life for our citizens.”