From the Noront news release...if you can believe the gov't?

Road Development
Last August, the province announced funding and support for two First Nation led access road proposals linking the Ring of Fire and their communities to the provincial highway system. Since that time Noront has provided support to the proponent communities for the access roads in order to expedite the permitting process.  The Company has made environmental assessment and engineering studies available and met with community groups to provide expertise and organizational input. The provincial government has assembled a team representing four ministries which is providing support and guidance. 

Upgrades to existing roads are ongoing and environmental fieldwork which has taken place since earlier this year should culminate in the filing of project descriptions by mid-year. Government timelines estimate shovels will be in the ground in 2019.

The Company was also pleased to see the $1 billion previously allocated by the provincial government to infrastructure spending in the Ring of Fire was present in the province’s recently announced 2018 budget.