Frontier Lithium Welcomes Start of Construction on the Berens Bridge & Road Project
Frontier Lithium Welcomes Start of
Construction on the Berens Bridge & Road
Project
GREATER SUDBURY, ON
,
Feb. 23, 2026
/CNW/ -
Frontier Lithium Inc.
(TSXV: FL) (FRA: HL2)
(OTC: LITOF) ("
Frontier
" or the "
Company
") welcomes today's announcement by The Honourable
George Pirie, Ontario's Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth, confirming that
construction has begun on the Berens Bridge and Road Project (
available here
). The construction of
the bridge will be completed through an agreement with Pikangikum First Nation and Whitefeather
Forest Community Resource Management Authority ("
WFCRMA
") with a general contractor to
oversee the construction. All construction permitting will be secured and held by WFCRMA for the
construction activities and the construction will be completed in accordance with these detailed
designs.
Conceptual of the proposed Berens River bridge near Pikangikum First Nation in northwestern
Ontario. Source: Berens River Bridge and Road communities' website (CNW Group/Frontier
Lithium Inc.)
The Berens Bridge & Road Project will deliver:
A two-lane bridge across the Berens River in Northern Ontario
More than 30 kilometres of new and upgraded all-season road links
Improved year-round access for several Treaty #5 First Nation communities. The Berens Bridge &
Road infrastructure will enhance safety, reduce the cost of goods, and improve access to essential
services for thousands of residents across the region. Pikangikum and WFCRMA have selected a
general contractor, for the construction of the Berens River Bridge. Rock drilling and blasting began
last week to produce materials required to prepare the bridge site. Additional onsite work, including
construction of a temporary bridge, will continue through the spring (2026), with the final, permanent
bridge expected to be completed in 2028.
Minister Pirie's leadership has been central to advancing infrastructure that strengthens northern
communities, reduces barriers to development, and supports Ontario's growing critical minerals
sector. Today's announcement builds on a series of provincial initiatives in 2026 aimed at expanding
transportation infrastructure, modernizing permitting through the recently enacted, One Project, One
Process ("1P1P"), strengthening energy reliability, and supporting economic reconciliation with
Indigenous communities.
"Ontario's commitment to building and upgrading northern infrastructure is creating real momentum in
the region," said Trevor Walker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Lithium. "The start
of construction on the Berens Bridge and Road Project is a milestone for Pikangikum First Nation
and neighbouring communities, and we applaud Minister Pirie and community leaders for advancing
this transformative work."
"This progress aligns with the pathway Ontario is building for critical minerals," added Mr. Walker.
"Improved all-season access is essential for community well-being and for responsibly advancing
projects like Frontier's PAK Lithium Project. We remain committed to working in partnership with
Indigenous communities and governments as the region continues to grow."
The announcement reinforces Ontario's broader strategy to accelerate responsible development in
its Northern region. In addition to investments in strengthening transmission lines, winter roads, and
clean energy projects, and supported by the new 1P1P permitting model, the Province of Ontario is
establishing a predictable and coordinated environment that enables the responsible development of
new clean-energy supply chain projects.
Frontier congratulates Pikangikum First Nation, regional leadership, and the Province of Ontario on
this important milestone of initiating construction on the Berens River Bridge and Road Project and
looks forward to continued collaboration as construction moves forward.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Trevor Walker
President & Chief Executive Officer
About Frontier Lithium
Frontier Lithium Inc. is a pre-production mining company with an objective to become a strategic and
integrated supplier of premium spodumene concentrates as well as battery-grade lithium salts to the
growing electric vehicle, and energy storage markets in North America. The Company's PAK Lithium
Project maintains the largest land position and resource in a premium lithium mineral district located
in Ontario's Great Lakes region.
About the PAK Lithium Project
The PAK Lithium Project is a fully integrated critical minerals initiative in Ontario, developing a high-
grade, large scale lithium resource. Operated as a joint venture between Frontier (92.5%) and
Mitsubishi Corporation (7.5%), the project is advancing in parallel with a mine and mill, north of Red
Lake, Ontario and a downstream lithium conversion facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario, which are both
key to supporting a secure domestic lithium supply for the clean energy transition. A 2025 Mine and
Mill Feasibility Study (FS), prepared by DRA Global Limited and entitled National Instrument 43-101
Technical Report FS PAK Lithium Project, Mine and Mill, outlines a 31-year Project life with an after-
tax net present value of $932 million at an 8% discount rate and an after-tax internal rate of return of
17.9%. These results have been disclosed in the Company's press release dated May 28, 2025,
and the accompanying technical report was filed on SEDAR+ (
www.sedarplus.ca
) on July 9, 2025.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements".
All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking
statements. Forward looking statements contained in this news release may include, but are not
limited to, estimated capital allocated by the Company to the Projects, the Beren's ridge project, its
funding and eligible cost reimbursements, the PAK Lithium Project and its estimated economics, and
statements with respect to: capital requirements and private and/or public financing initiatives and
completion of these financings (if any), estimated mineral resources, estimated capital costs to
construct a mine and conversion facilities, estimated operating costs, estimated cash flows, net
present value, the feasibility study and references thereto, and statements that address future
production, resource and reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or
developments that the Company expects, including but not limited to capital and operating costs,
timelines, internal rates of return, and project development milestones.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Risk factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include: market prices for
commodities, increases in capital or operating costs, construction risks, availability of infrastructure
including roads, regulatory and permitting risks, exploitation and exploration successes, continued
availability of capital and financing, financing costs, and general economic, market or business
conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future
performance and those actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in
the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, please review the
Company's public filings available at
www.sedarplus.ca
.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is
defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Frontier Lithium Inc.
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%SEDAR: 00008434E
For further information:
Company Contact Information: Bora Ugurgel, Senior Manager, Investor
Relations, 2614 Belisle Drive, Val Caron, Greater Sudbury, Ontario, P3N 1B3 CANADA, T. +001
705.897.7622, F. +001 705.897.7618
CO: Frontier Lithium Inc.
CNW 16:30e 23-FEB-26