DORION – Motorists in Dorion will be feeling a little bit safer on the roads next week as a portion of a highway twinning project will begin opening in the area.
Contractor Teranorth announced in a letter to residents earlier this week that a portion of the new divided four-lane highway near Dorion is expected to open to traffic on Monday, Aug. 14.
Dorion Reeve Robert Beatty said the step is just an interim one as work proceeds on the newly opened section, but called it a good sign the project is proceeding towards completion, expected in October.
"The highway is not completed and won't be completed until the fall, however, for the convenience of the public, they are opening the westbound and eastbound lanes tentatively on Monday," he said. "That's very good for the community, it’ll provide safer access to the twinning of the highway."
The work has been ongoing for over two years and Beatty said residents are very interested in getting the highway finished.
"The contract has been excellent, Tera North has been excellent with the community, with the municipality itself," he said. "However, it would be nice to have the highway finished, that particular portion [of] 8.6 kilometres."
Residents are advised to use caution when entering and exiting driveways and side roads onto the new four-lane facility.