Highway 17 Rehabilitation – Nairn to RR 4/Den Lou Road
Location
Nairn Centre, Ontario, Canada
Owner
Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO)
Role
Consultant
Project Overview
Rehabilitation of 18.6 km of Highway 17, enhancing pavement condition, drainage, structural integrity, and roadside safety features.
Key Components
- Grading & Drainage Improvements – Pavement rehabilitation using milling, in-place processing, and new hot mix asphalt. Drainage upgrades, including culvert replacements and extensions, catch basin adjustments, and ditch improvements.
- Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Paving:
- Western 9.3 km: Mill existing asphalt and place 120 mm of new HMA.
- Eastern 9.3 km: Pre-mill, in-place process remaining pavement, and place 160 mm of new HMA.
- Structural Work – Blake Creek Culvert Replacement:
- Full replacement of Blake Creek Structural Culvert (Site 46-490/C).
- Replacement of two centerline culverts and 27 CSP extensions (23 in-kind, 4 with concrete boxes).
- Roadside Safety Enhancements – Guiderail upgrades, rock scaling for slope stability, and highway signage improvements.
- Traffic Monitoring – Replacement of an existing traffic counting station.
Challenges & Solutions
Project Impact & Benefits
- Enhanced roadway safety and driving conditions along a critical transportation corridor.
- Improved drainage reduces flood risks and supports long-term pavement durability.
- Strengthened structural integrity of Blake Creek Culvert and other drainage features.
- Environmental stewardship through fish habitat protection, erosion control, and SAR management.
- Minimized community disruption by limiting lane closures to nighttime hours and coordinating with local municipalities.
Construction Overview
The project was delivered under the Design-Bid-Build model over a 6-month period, addressing pavement deterioration, structural deficiencies, and environmental concerns. Traffic management strategies, environmental mitigation measures, and community coordination ensured smooth project delivery with minimal disruptions. The completed rehabilitation supports safe and efficient transportation for both local and regional traffic.