Ontario plans to replace Hearst truck inspection station and add 14 km of Highway 11 passing lanes

The Ontario government says it will replace the truck inspection station on Highway 11 in Hearst and add 14 kilometres of new passing lanes on Highway 11 near Benoit, Calder, Gill, Grenfill and Kendrey townships. The inspection station project is expected to be completed in December 2026.

The work is planned for a stretch of Highway 11 used by residents, travellers and commercial traffic moving through the Hearst area and surrounding communities. The projects include changes at the existing inspection station site and new passing-lane sections on the highway.

For the Hearst truck inspection station, the province says the project includes demolishing the existing structure, which is currently underway, replacing the scales and adding a new pre-engineered building.

Villeneuve Construction was awarded the contract to replace the Hearst Truck Inspection Station on Highway 11, the province says.

The province says the new passing lanes near the five townships are intended to allow faster traffic to safely pass slower-moving vehicles and to reduce the likelihood of collisions.

In the release, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the projects are aimed at improving highway safety and traffic flow.

Ontario operates 35 truck inspection stations across the province, including multiple locations that operate 24 hours a day, according to the province’s news release.