Mayors Highlight Need for Highway 17 Expansion

The mayors of Renfrew and Horton Township in eastern Ontario say a crash that shut down Highway 17 for hours on Wednesday serves as a reminder of the need to widen the road in the area.

A transport truck collided on the bridge over the Bonnechere River on Wednesday afternoon, leading to a fuel spill. Ontario Provincial Police closed the two-lane highway while crews worked to manage the spill and clear the truck. Police reported that the driver was taken to hospital as a precaution, and the Ministry of the Environment was informed.

The ministry stated in an email to Ottawa that roughly 500 litres of diesel and about 200 litres of operating fluid were spilled onto the roadway and bridge.

“Spill containment measures were deployed immediately by emergency response crews, with some fluids expected to have reached the frozen Bonnechere River,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment said. “Clean up crews began assessing the area to determine how extensive the impacts are, and frozen conditions at the time of the accident are anticipated to have limited broader environmental effects.”

In a Facebook post on Wednesday evening, Horton Township Mayor Daina Proctor expressed her hope that this incident will draw more attention to expanding Highway 17.

“The complete closure of Highway 17 highlights how much disruptions on this vital route impact residents, businesses, and emergency services,” Proctor wrote.

“I’m asking our provincial partners to let (Wednesday’s) event serve as a renewed call to focus on what’s needed for our part of this essential corridor. Twinning Highway 17 isn’t just a future goal; it’s an urgent safety need for our region today.”

In a statement to Ottawa, Renfrew Mayor Tom Sidney mentioned that traffic was diverted through Renfrew due to the crash, emphasizing again how crucial it is for highway expansion.

“The closure of Highway 17 for several hours led to significant traffic being rerouted through our downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods. This puts extra pressure on our infrastructure and creates real challenges for both local residents and travelers. Situations like this highlight just how important it is to proceed with widening Highway 17 in our region,” he wrote.

“’s recent commitment to this project is an essential step toward improving safety and ensuring more reliable travel through our community, especially as highway usage continues increasing in our area.”

Sidney noted his gratitude that no one suffered serious injuries or fatalities from this incident and thanked first responders along with neighboring officials for their prompt actions during this situation.

Widening Moving into Next Phase

The province announced at the end of February that it was accepting proposals for widening Highway 17 between Renfrew and Arnprior. This phase will involve twinning 22.5 kilometers of road on Highway 17, from Scheel Drive near Arnprior all the way westward past Bruce Street in Renfrew, which includes where the collision took place.

Hwy 17 Ontario proposed alignment The location where they plan to twin Highway 17 in eastern Ontario is outlined by government plans. A crash occurred on March 18, 2026, between Highway 60 and Bruce Street. (Government of Ontario/supplied)

This area has experienced several accidents over recent years, some resulting in fatalities.

The provincial government first revealed its plans for expanding this highway back in 2019, stating work would be completed in phases within ten years. An earlier phase wrapped up in 2023 with new construction at Highway 17 and Calabogie Road involving both bridgework and interchange improvements.

“We appreciate ongoing collaboration with our government partners and remain dedicated to working together so we can strengthen Highway 17 moving forward,” Proctor said. “I thank every responder involved today for their commitment service towards our community.”

The highway reopened overnight after being closed for about twelve hours.

The Ministry of Environment indicated staff continue coordinating with cleanup teams regarding spill management while monitoring progress over coming days.

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