Please be advised that contractors will start controlled blasting in the Connecting Link construction zone beginning Monday, Sept. 12. 2022. Blasting will be on-going until further notice and will occur Monday to Friday between 7am and 7pm.
Controlled blasting is being done to remove bedrock from pipe trenches located from Preston Ave. moving west towards Mountjoy St. This is to facilitate continued installation of underground infrastructure along Algonquin Blvd.
Noise and vibration in the area are to be expected. Contractors will work to control dust from blasting activities.
Controlled blasting is being done to remove bedrock from pipe trenches located from Preston Ave. moving west towards Mountjoy St. This is to facilitate continued installation of underground infrastructure along Algonquin Blvd.
Businesses and residents in the area have been notified by contractors.
We appreciate your continued patience as we work towards project completion.
Amanda Dyer
Please be advised that water will be shut off in the area surrounding the Connecting Link construction zone along Algonquin Blvd. on the evenings of Sept. 12 AND Sept. 13, 2022 beginning at 9:00 p.m. and for a period of approximately 9 hours.
The shut off area is specific to the construction zone site and will impact businesses and homes along Algonquin Blvd. between Theriault Blvd. and Mountjoy St. including the Preston St. apartments, extending up Rea St. N. immediately behind the grocery store and Hollinger Plaza.
This is necessary to work on water infrastructure in the construction zone.
When the water flow returns, you may experience discoloured water. Before using the water, it is recommended to run your cold-water taps for a minimum of 10 minutes until the water runs clear. You may need to do this once water is turned on from each disruption.
Residents and businesses in the area have been notified by contractors.
Thank you for your continued patience as we work towards project completion.
Amanda Dyer
Connecting Link update for August 30, 2022. Crews are currently working on the intersection at Preston St. All new infrastructure at Preston St. and Algonquin Blvd. is complete. Crews will start the disinfection procedure on the new watermain system this week. Hydro One will be moving services from old utility poles to new poles within the work zone. Once this is complete, the old utility poles will be removed and crews will complete the subdrains and start preparing for curb and sidewalk installation from just east of Theriault Blvd. to Preston St.
Work in the Beer Store parking lot has been finished and paving is being scheduled.
As we head towards the Mountjoy intersection, we are expecting to hit bedrock and may have to blast. You can see some of the existing rock formation on Algonquin by the Senator Hotel. A pre-blast survey has been completed by the contractor with all area businesses and residents in the area.
Finally, with the downpour we got last night, crews had some minor pumping of the excavation site this morning, but it won’t have impact on work progress.
Amanda Dyer
On September 3, Timmins Transit will end its temporary summer service reduction and resume the modified schedule implemented during the pandemic. Route 16 (South Porcupine / Porcupine) and Routes 37 and 38 (Melrose / Riverside) will return to 30-minute frequency. Timmins Transit will continue to run a modified Saturday schedule Monday to Friday based on current ridership numbers.
Ridership refers to the number of the people who use the bus. That number has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. What does this mean for operations? Before COVID, transit fares covered roughly 35% of operating costs (fuel, wages, maintenance, and administration). On an operational budget exceeding $5 million, the municipal tax base had to absorb 64% of the costs with just 1% coming from other revenues. Since COVID, transit fares have covered just 19% of operational costs with the tax base now covering 68%. The City has also had to rely on operational grants to cover 12% of transit operations, even though the cost to operate was reduced through service reduction. The totals provided are based on actuals from 2019 to 2021. Add to that on-going labour shortages that have made hiring drivers post-COVID challenging.
At this time, a modified schedule works best to balance service, convenience, and cost. Timmins Transit tracks ridership numbers every month and can respond to an increase in demand if necessary. Management has also initiated a complete route analysis that will help to determine system efficiency. It’s the first step in evaluating how to increase ridership and find alternative modes of service delivery that better suit the needs of our community.
Timmins Transit’s popular Northern College Express will also hit the road on September 6 to help students travel back and forth from the Transit Terminal on Spruce St. direct to the Northern College campus. This seasonal service is another example of how Timmins Transit works to actively address demand and improve service.
The City of Timmins is currently hiring part-time bus drivers. The successful candidate will have an acceptable driving record and be capable of possessing a Class “BZ” or “CZ” Ontario’s Driver’s License. No transit experience is required, training is provided. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3KcasjA.
Track your bus online using https://tracker.timminstransit.ca or download the Timmins Transit app today from Google Play or App Store.
Amanda Dyer
City Council has appointed Deputy Mayor Kristin Murray as Mayor ahead of the next municipal election on October 24, 2022. The appointment was of historic significance as Murray is notably the City’s first person of colour to serve on council and now as Mayor.
Murray is of Jamaican and Cree ancestry and is a registered member of Chapleau Cree First Nation. She was first elected as Councillor for Ward 5 in 2018. As a new councillor, Murray’s representation of the city’s diverse population brought invaluable lived experience to council.
“I am thrilled to have the support of my fellow councillors as I carry out the term as Mayor,” says Mayor Kristin Murray. “From the COVID-19 pandemic to the election of George Pirie as our local Member of Provincial Parliament, this term has been both challenging and exciting.
“On a personal level, I am humbled to be part of history as I become the city’s first person of colour to serve as Mayor. Let it be known that I don’t want to be known only as the first person of colour to hold this position. I am so much more than that. I am a community member who genuinely cares and wants the best for our region. We have some complex issues to address and I hope to contribute some innovative approaches to meeting our community’s needs. We also have some amazing projects underway and I am excited to help encourage the growth and development of Timmins and area.”
Murray will now serve as Timmins’ mayor until the city elects a new mayor and council later this fall. The resulting vacancy created by Murray’s appointment is within 90 days before voting day of the next regular election and does not need to be filled as per Ontario’s Municipal Act, 2001. City council will appoint a new deputy mayor at the next regular council meeting.
For more information on the 2022 municipal election, visit our Elections Page.
Amanda Dyer
Construction on segment 6 of the Connecting Link corridor continues with City contractors working on watermain and sewer infrastructure beneath Algonquin Blvd. Work is currently being completed between Rea St. and Preston St. moving east towards Mountjoy St.
The full segment will have complete reconstruction of the roadway, replacement of underground services, pole relocation, and curb installation.
Timmins Police Service has recently issued a couple of traffic advisories related to the southern detour along Commercial Ave. Motorists have been reminded that the “no left turn” signs on Wilson Ave. and Mountjoy St. S. should be adhered to and will be enforced and that the small section of Mattagami Blvd. S. at the bridge remains one-way. It is not part of any construction detour this summer. Motorists bypassing construction should continue to use the proper detour routes and be prepared for short delays.
Amanda Dyer
Construction on segment 6 of the Connecting Link corridor continues with City contractors moving forward on storm, sanitary, and watermain infrastructure beneath Algonquin Blvd. To date, watermain work is completed up to Rea St. S. moving east from Theriault Blvd.
The segment between Theriault Blvd. and Mountjoy St. will have complete reconstruction of the roadway, replacement of underground services, pole relocation, and curb installation.
Motorists bypassing construction are encouraged to use the proper detour routes. While there will be some congestion, each route was designed to redirect a higher volume of traffic off Algonquin Blvd. as efficiently as possible. Motorists should be prepared for short delays. City contractors will be adding additional detour signs along the southerly route, flashing beacons at all temporary stop signs, and signage indicating a 4-way stop or all-way stop is ahead. Line painting crews are also scheduled this week to add stop lines and crosswalk markings for temporary stops.
Amanda Dyer
A Special Council Meeting has been called for July 26, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. in Council Chambers to discuss the following items:
Report:
• Additional payload integration hall at the Timmins Stratospheric Balloon Base - D. Dayment
Motions of Council:
• Wedding at 2030 Kraftcreek Road re: Noise exemption
• 2022-8734-Agreement with CGV Builders Inc. re: Additional Payload Integration Hall at the Timmins Stratospheric Balloon Base
For more information, contact the Clerks Department:
220 Algonquin Blvd. East
Timmins, Ontario
P4N 1B3
[email protected]
Ashish Puri
After one day navigating new detours past Connecting Link construction, the City has some tips for residents to help keep traffic moving.
Two detour routes are now in place that navigate traffic north or south of the construction zone between Theriault Blvd. and Mountjoy St. The northerly route takes Theriault Blvd. to Vimy Ave. back to Mountjoy N. Two new temporary stop signs are in place and the City is adding additional flashing beacons ahead of each stop to alert motorists. The southerly route takes Cameron St. S to Commercial Ave. back to Mountjoy S. Three additional traffic lights have been added and synchronized to reduce stops and move vehicles.
Both detour routes were designed with engineering consultants to optimize traffic flow. Traffic was diverted to Commercial Ave. this year because it is an approved truck route and provides a more direct line through Mountjoy S. to Second Ave. Temporary no left turn signs have been added along the route to prevent traffic congestion, particularly when turning left from Wilson onto Mountjoy N. All temporary traffic signs and signals are enforceable under the Highway Traffic Act and should be adhered to.
One recommendation is for motorists to make use of both detours depending on travel direction. Drivers heading west towards Timmins Square are encouraged to use the northerly route along Vimy with an easy right turn off Algonquin Blvd. at Mountjoy. Drivers heading east back towards south end can use the southerly route along Cameron St. S. and Commercial Ave. with a right turn off Algonquin Blvd. at Theriault. By using both routes, traffic congestion will be further minimized.
Motorists are also reminded to help keep intersections clear. If traffic is delayed at an intersection, it is advisable to not enter the intersection until you can completely clear it on the other side.
Full details on Connecting Link construction including detour maps, adjusted Timmins Transit stops, and stages of construction can be found at Timmins.ca. Residents can also sign up for Connecting Link alerts to stay up-to-date on construction progress.
Amanda Dyer
A lasting effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a driver shortage at Timmins Transit. In an effort to reduce driver fatigue and stress, City Council has approved a temporary frequency reduction effective Monday, June 13.
The revised schedule will be in place over the summer months from June through August and will reduce frequency times of some routes from service every 30 minutes to every forty-five minutes.
“Last summer, Management had to cancel summer vacation requests due to driver shortage,” says Director of Public Works and Environmental Services Ken Krcel. “Our drivers need time to rest and recharge. The immediate benefit is a reduction in lost time and employee turnover. This small change will prevent a greater loss of service that could happen if drivers end up burned out and calling in sick.”
Reducing the frequency of service will reduce the total number of driving hours each day, allowing for time off without having to cancel routes altogether. The timing is also ideal since past data shows a decline in ridership during the summer months.
“We need to give drivers their requested time off as per their collective agreement,” adds Krcel. “We are doing that with as little impact to transit riders as possible while providing adequate public transportation in the summer.”
For more information on Timmins Transit schedule and updated routes, including those impacted by Connecting Link construction, visit Timmins.ca / Our Services / Timmins Transit.
Amanda Dyer
- Emergency Watermain Repairs - Florence St. - May 10, 2025
- Emergency Watermain Break - Earl St. May 9, 2025
- Sweeping Operations Week of May 10, 2025 to May 16, 2025
- What’s Going On? A Conversation with Gwynne Dyer and Charlie Angus
- Emergency Watermain Break Repair– Environmental Services – May 6, 2025 (1)
- Emergency Watermain Break Repair– Environmental Services – May 6, 2025
- Sweeping Operations Week of May 3, 2025 to May 9, 2025 (1)
- Sweeping Operations Week of May 3, 2025 to May 9, 2025
- Full-Time Environmental Co-ordinator - Competition No.: GI-2025-07
- Full-Time Field Supervisor (Distribution Collection) - Competition No.: PWE-2025-12
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