Thunder Bay issues heat warning; Northwest Arterial and Expressway upgrades to proceed in tandem

[Thunder Bay] The city government and provincial departments issued updates on August 7 regarding weather and transportation infrastructure: on one hand, the city is under a heat warning; on the other, the Northwest Arterial Road and Thunder Bay Expressway upgrades have been clearly defined as a package of projects that will be "coordinated and advanced in parallel."

According to the update, Thunder Bay is now under a heat warning, with forecast highs around 29°C and humidex values expected to reach 36 to 39, lasting until Saturday evening. Weather officials remind that heat can affect anyone's health, and to watch for signs of heat exhaustion such as headache, dizziness, thirst, darker urine, and extreme fatigue; if symptoms like flushed hot skin, nausea, or confusion suggest heat stroke, cool down while waiting for emergency services and call for help immediately.

On transportation infrastructure, city engineering head Matthew Miedema said the Northwest Arterial Road project and the Thunder Bay Expressway overhaul "have been linked from the start" and will proceed in a coordinated manner rather than as separate sequential projects. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) plans to issue an RFP for the Expressway's detailed design in September, a phase expected to take about two years, followed by approval from higher levels of government; the city's RFP for Northwest Arterial Road detailed design is expected between 2026 and 2027. The overall construction timeline must align with MTO work, with the first visible construction window roughly five years out, and the municipal project will not proceed ahead of the MTO schedule.

The city explains that Northwest Arterial Road's key role is to "pre-divert" traffic during the early stages of the Expressway overhaul. When MTO advances to the Red River Road intersection and closes the highway ramps at John Street and Oliver Road, the Northwest Arterial section, especially connecting Golf Links Road to John Street Road, will handle heavy traffic from Highway 11/17 and the city's northwest area. The municipal project has a budget of about $33 million CAD and spans roughly 4 km, connecting Dawson Road and Golf Links Road.

Under MTO's proposed plan, the Thunder Bay Expressway will be upgraded to a divided four-lane highway, with interchanges replacing traffic signals at major intersections, and ramps at Arthur Street, Harbour Expressway, the future Northwest Arterial Road, Red River Road, and Balsam Street, while eliminating direct highway access at John Street and Oliver Road. City council last month agreed to update the environmental assessment for Northwest Arterial Road, with materials to be released to the public within weeks; the Expressway's environmental assessment has already been completed by MTO.