Highway 61 Reconstruction
Location
District of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Owner
Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO)
Role
Consultant
Project Overview
Reconstruction of an 18.8 km stretch of Highway 61, from 0.5 km north of Jarvis Bay Road to 0.4 km south of Highway 130
Key Components
- Grading, Drainage & Granular Base – To enhance road stability and improve overall drainage.
- Hot Mix Paving – Cold in-place recycling with expanded asphalt mix and a 50 mm Superpave 12.5 surface course.
- Trenchless Culvert Replacements – Seven culverts to be replaced using trenchless methods to minimize surface disruption.
- Platform Widening & Shoulder Upgrades – Inclusion of 2.5m fully paved shoulders to improve safety.
- Guiderail Replacement & Adjustments – Upgraded to steel beam guiderails with energy-attenuating terminals (SBEAT).
- Drainage & Ditching Improvements – Replacement of 22 centreline culverts and targeted ditch cleanouts to maintain proper water flow.
- Utility Relocations – Coordination with Hydro One, Bell, and Tbaytel to relocate existing infrastructure.
Challenges & Solutions
Project Impact & Benefits
- Enhanced road safety and driving experience through pavement rehabilitation and shoulder widening.
- Improved drainage to prevent future road deterioration.
- Minimal environmental impact with strategic excess soil management.
- Extended service life of Highway 61 through modern construction methods.