11 by Darcy Niemczak

This project follows a stretch of highway 11 that runs from Huntsville to North Bay. This portion of the highway was constructed for the sole purpose of bypassing small towns to cut down drive times for truckers and travellers. This ongoing project documents how this bypass has had an irreversible negative impact on the local ecosystem that cannot be undone. As I was shooting this project, I found a variety of objects to scan which are reflective of the area and the highway's story. I was surrounded by beautiful scenery, yet was constantly confronted with the reality of massive concrete structures and four lanes that seemingly never ended. By driving down this highway for the past 10 years, I was able to look out my window and see these beautiful landscapes. However, this idealistic view of the area was brought back to reality as soon as I turned my head forward.