Ontario Government is Fast Tracking Highway 11 Expansion to Encourage Northern Ontario Prosperity

(EMAILWIRE.COM, May 06, 2007 ) Sundridge, Ontario -- The Government of Ontario has devised a road map for northern prosperity which includes encouraging Canadian tourism, economic growth and improving safety. This will be enforced as the Northern Ontario Highways Strategy, a record $1.8-billion, multi-year plan for highway improvements and expansion in Northern Ontario is implemented. The strategy will see that investment in northern highway infrastructure increases by nearly 40 percent over five years. In addition, the government projects that the Northern Ontario Highways Strategy will support economic growth and development as it creates 45,000 jobs across the province and plays a pivotal role in the economic prosperity of the entire province, but especially in the north where more than $32 billon in natural resources and other products are produced and shipped each year. Over the next five years, the Ontario government will invest $700 million to expand northern highways to improve safety and efficiency and boost economic development. Fifty-four new bridges and 62 kilometres of new roadway will be added. Furthermore, $1.1 billion will be spent over the next five years on the repair and upkeep of over 2,000 kilometres of existing highways and 200 bridges. Eleven million tourists visited Northern Ontario in 2003 and spent nearly $1.7 billion. With improved Ontario highway conditions and an enhanced highway system, the trip north will be made both faster and safer, and these numbers are expected to continue to rise.One community that has already begun to feel the positive economic benefits of the Northern Ontario Highways Strategy is the tourist area of Almaguin Highlands, also known as Muskoka North. Located approximately two and a half hours north of Metropolitan Toronto, a few miles north of the town of Huntsville on Highway 11, Muskoka North has become a viable alternative to the over-priced and over-crowded “Old Muskoka.” With the final phase of regional improvements to Highway 11 well under way, increasing the highway from two lanes to four, some Muskoka-bound tourists have already begun to travel a little further north. In a recent interview, Brenda and Michael Piraino, the owners of Northridge Inn and Resort (http://www.northridgeinn.com), a popular lakeside resort on Lake Bernard, close to the town of Sundridge in the Almaguin Highlands, commented on how important ease of access is to their resort customers. “Many of our customers are professionals from urban centres with little time to get away, and when they do have the time, they don't want to spend it all in their vehicles. Tourist based businesses like ours who rely on customers from the GTA will definitely benefit from the improvements to Highway 11,” states Michael Piraino. The Almaguin Highlands, a region of untouched wilderness and crystal-clear lakes, has already witnessed large increases in land values, particularly lakefront real estate. Still, real estate prices are extremely reasonable, especially when compared to the prices in Old Muskoka. However, this may be changing. Brenda and Michael Piraino believe that investors have already become aware of just what a bargain North Muskoka real estate is and are buying up properties on speculation. “Just recently we sold two lakefront lots at full asking price. These properties were sold even before all severance approvals and rezoning had been completed. The real estate market in North Muskoka is definitely heating up,” reports Brenda Piraino. With the Northern Ontario Highway Strategy’s improvements to Highway 11 in the North Muskoka area shortening the drive from Metropolitan Toronto, the beautiful Almaguin Highlands with its reasonable land prices and easy access from the GTA is poised to become the “New Muskoka.” Northridge Inn & Resort, located close to the town of Sundridge in the Almaguin Highlands, on the south shore of beautiful Lake Bernard, is a fabulous choice for a lakeside resort vacation. Recently voted one of the “Top Ten Inn/Resort Destinations in Ontario” according to Toronto Life Magazine, Northridge Inn & Resort is a full service resort that offers its guests luxurious accommodations in a pristine wilderness setting. For more information, please visit Northridge Inn & Resort or call Michael & Brenda Piraino at 705-384-2252.Source: http://www.first-page-seo.com and http://prnn.com.###This press release was issued through GroupWeb EmailWire.Com. For more information on press release distribution, go to http://www.emailwire.com.

Kevin Dill

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