Abstract Manager

The Northern Road Link (NRL) is a proposed all-season road in northwest Ontario designed to connect to the Ring of Fire mineral deposit area. Co-managed by Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation, two remote Indigenous communities that are currently not accessible by all-season roads, the project is undergoing both provincial and federal environmental assessments. Located in the western edge of the James Bay Lowlands, an ecologically sensitive and largely undisturbed region, the NRL study area is primarily characterized by vast peatlands, with disturbance limited to forest fires and some localized mining exploration. This area also lies within the Missisa Caribou Range.

In the context of global biodiversity decline, it is increasingly critical that infrastructure projects endeavor to deliver positive environmental outcomes. Traditionally, environmental assessments have focused on mitigating negative impacts; however, such measures often fall short of achieving truly beneficial environmental results. Our approach to the NRL project includes a comprehensive alternatives assessment and the application of innovative engineering solutions to minimize impacts and avoid disruption to sensitive habitats. These efforts aim to enhance environmental quality and potentially result in a minimal to no net loss, or net gain in vegetation community/habitat, or species diversity.

Proposed design strategies include the use of an innovative floating road system over peatland areas, which will facilitate unimpeded groundwater flow, as well as careful routing to avoid key Caribou habitats, Lake Sturgeon spawning sites, and important Moose concentration areas. Achieving a net gain in biodiversity will also involve thoughtful habitat offsetting and consideration of species composition, habitat structure, ecosystem function, and the cultural values of local communities. This requires ongoing collaboration with the Indigenous communities to ensure that both environmental and cultural priorities are integrated throughout the project’s lifecycle.