Truckers to get parking, heated washrooms, free Wi-Fi at upgraded Hwy. 17 rest area
The Ontario government is making travel easier for truck drivers in northern Ontario by investing more than $6 million to upgrade the Batchawana Bay rest area on Highway 17 north of Sault Ste. Marie. The rest area is being expanded to accommodate commercial vehicles.
The upgraded amenities will include newly constructed entrance and exit lanes, giving truck drivers year-round access to heated washrooms and a separate parking area with nine spaces for commercial vehicles. The washrooms will also be renovated with new fixtures, enhanced lighting and upgraded heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
The rest area will also be fitted with free Wi-Fi, personal device charging stations, a TV with information displays and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. Work will also be done to support underground infrastructure to allow for future electric vehicle charging stations.
“Ontario’s truckers are crucial to our economy, keeping our shelves stocked and moving $3 billion worth of goods on our highways every day,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, minister of transportation in a news release. “No matter where they’re traveling, these men and women should have confidence in safe and reliable rest stops.”
Once the upgrades to Batchawana Bay rest area are complete, visitors will continue to have access to picnic tables, a foot wash station, a pet exercise area and a public seating area.
The improved Batchawana Bay rest area will provide truck drivers with a comfortable stop in the middle of a 220-kilometer stretch of Highway 17 that currently has no designated facilities for truckers.
As part of a five-year plan to improve the rest area network across Ontario, the government is upgrading 14 existing rest areas, building 10 new rest areas and adding 165 additional truck parking spaces at four existing ONroute locations.
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This is great news for truckers using that stretch of highway. There is also a big vacant area where a motel once sat, along the highway just outside of Wawa where drivers stop for the night that would make for a prime location for a truck stop since it is also near a tire place, motel, and restaurants nearby that should be considered
We are very happy to see what I and others have been pushing for for the last 5 years
I would like thank those nonprofit groups and others inside the gov that made this happen
I would also like to thank 3 people that work for O T A members that supported us in making this happen.