Hwy 17 re-opens after hours-long closures

Highway 17 wasreopened just after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday after poor road conditionshampered travel on the north shore of Lake Superior for much of the day.

Ontario Provincial Police said there were many transport trucks stuck on hills.Road crews were working to clear and sand the highway.

OPP initially closed the highway eastbound at Terrace Bay and westbound at Marathon but subsequently extended the affected sectionto Nipigon following a collision involving two tractor trailers.

Eastbound motorists approaching Nipigon werere-routed to Highway 11.

Snow-removal contract extended

In a related development, the Ministryof Transportation has extended one of its highway winter maintenance contracts in the northwest because ofthis month's winteryweather.

The ministry asked TWD Roads Management to keep its full fleet available for an extra week.

TWD maintains the highways from around Upsala east to White River.

Typicallythe MTO contractorsare required to keep a full complement of staff and equipment only until April 22.