SUDBURY, Ont. — Local officials here say they’re outraged by the lack of cash for Hwy. 69.

A provincial announcement about how $255 million will be spent to improve northern highways came and went without a commitment to four-laning Hwy. 69 between Sudbury and Parry Sound.

“It’s ridiculous, just ridiculous,” says Nickel Belt MPP Shelley Martel. “There is clearly a need to do this work. It’s typical of this government’s disregard for Northern Ontario. It’s more of the same.”

Some of the projects receiving funding include new road and bridge reconstruction on Hwy. 11. Work is also ongoing on the four-laning of that route between Melissa and Emsdale, north of Huntsville, as well as on the four-lane Trout Creek bypass and the new contract from Trout Creek to South River.

Work will also continue on the four-laning of Hwy. 17 east of Sault Ste. Marie.

In addition, some work will be done on Hwy. 6 in Little Current, as well as a small portion in Espanola.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to four-laning 30km of Hwy. 69 south of Parry Sound, but no mention was made of the northern stretches above Parry Sound.