the highway route passes through the rural municipalities of markstay-warren and west nipissing before reaching north bay, where it follows an undivided four-lane expressway alignment, with reduced but not full control of access, through the city of north bay; as of 2012, early preparations have taken place for a freeway conversion and realignment of this segment. for 4.1 kilometres from algonquin avenue to the twin lakes area, the route is once again concurrent with highway 11. at the northern end of this concurrency, highway 11 travels north and wraps westward and south to nipigon; at the southern end, it continues southward towards toronto, while highway 17 turns east toward the ottawa valley. an at-grade intersection with highway 63 is located at approximately the midpoint of the concurrency.