May 2022 - Posts
Road construction season has begun in the City of Timmins and if the sound of birdsong doesn’t signal warmer weather, the sound of trucks and paving machinery will. The City’s road maintenance plans are extensive and motorists should be prepared for detours and delays, both unavoidable for the sake of smoother roads. The City will work to keep traffic moving and appreciates your patience when navigating construction zones.
Connecting Link construction is set to begin late May and work will proceed just east of Theriault Blvd. up to and including the Mountjoy St. intersection. The work is extensive and includes full-depth reconstruction of the roadway, replacement of underground services like water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer and pole relocation. The province’s recent investment of $74 million for the Connecting Link means the City can make improvements to the Connecting Link corridor at a quicker pace and divert funds to other pressing infrastructure projects. The City is currently finalizing traffic management plans and will have an update shortly.
The City is also completing grind and pave work on 5.8 kilometres of roadway across the city. During grind and pave, the top 40 to 50 mm of road surface is removed before applying a new, smooth surface. The process is faster than full reconstruction and saves money, time, and materials. Sections of Riverside Dr., Highway 101 E., Commercial Ave., and Mountjoy St. are on the schedule. You can see the full list of roads online at Timmins.ca. Another 5.6 kilometres of rural road will also receive surface treatment.
Denise St. will be resurfaced from Westmount Blvd. to Demine Ave. This work is also extensive and will widen the road, improve drainage, and add new curbs and asphalt. Watermain lining is already underway down Airport Rd. between Lonergan Blvd. and Lamminen Ave. The extension to St. Jean Ave. and the Langmuir Rd. culvert replacement will also be completed and the bridge on Bruce Ave. will be replaced.
It’s a long list of road maintenance work after what felt like an even longer winter. Here’s how to navigate it:
• Subscribe for Connecting Link alerts and Notice of Disruption alerts online at Timmins.ca to have updates sent directly to your email.
• Watch for detour and traffic control signs along main routes like Algonquin Blvd., Riverside Dr, and Airport Rd.
• Reduce your speed and drive with caution through any construction zone and watch for crew and equipment.
• Allow yourself more time to travel through busy areas under construction.
• Merge responsibly when roads are reduced to one lane by merging early and using the zipper method to take turns entering one lane.
Thank you for your continued patience as we set to work repairing and maintaining our roads. If you have any questions, Service Timmins is happy to help. You can reach Service Timmins online at service.timmins.ca, by email to [email protected], or by phone 705-264-1331.
Amanda Dyer
The City of Timmins’ sewer lining and rehabilitation project starts Tuesday, May 10 until September 30, 2022. Crews will be out working on various sewer main systems around the city with camera trucks and vacuum trucks onsite.
Sewer lining is a trenchless process of inserting new pipe tubing inside the existing sewer lines and curing it in place. The new seal lining can extend the life of sewer lines for decades and is a cost-effective way to preserve our infrastructure. The work required to complete the project requires less digging, yard excavation, or sidewalk replacement.
You may hear gurgling sounds coming from your toilet or sinks and may notice an unfamiliar odor, similar to fiberglass, coming from the service connection that runs between your house and sewer main. In most cases this comes from a dried out drain trap and can be avoided by pouring water into the basement floor drains or any other location (laundry or tub) that may not be in regular use. Please note that the odor is not harmful and will dissipate quickly once work is complete.
The following areas will be affected:
• South Porcupine (William Ave., Cecil Ave., Powell Ave., Broadway Ave., Front St., Shamrock Easement, Warner St., Evans St., Allan St., Tisdale St., Dunn Ave., Smith Ave.)
• Timmins South (Elm St. S, Maple St. S, Birch St. S, Balsam St. S, Pine St. S, Spruce St. S, Kirby Ave., Dale Ave., Ogden Ave.)
• Timmins North (Balsam St. N)
Traffic controls will be in place and drivers are asked to slow down when proceeding through the work zone. If you have any questions, reach out to Service Timmins at 705-264-1331 or online at service.timmins.ca.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time.
Amanda Dyer
Mayor George Pirie will take an unpaid leave of absence from his role as Timmins’ Mayor beginning May 4, 2022 ahead of the June 2 provincial election.
Deputy Mayor Michelle Boileau will fill in as acting Mayor until May 31, 2022. Councillor Kristin Murray will step in as Deputy Mayor starting June 1, 2022.
Members of Council, the Clerk’s Office, and the office of the Chief Administration Officer (CAO) will continue to address the needs of residents during this nine-week period.
Following results of the June 2 provincial election, the position of Mayor will either resume or council will have 60 days to fill the resulting vacancy on council. The next municipal election is scheduled for October 24, 2022.
Amanda Dyer
The City of Timmins acknowledges May 5 as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) in Canada. May 5 is also known as Red Dress Day, which began as “an aesthetic response” by artist Jamie Black to call attention to the staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women.
On this day, we are encouraged to honour the memories of those lost and raise awareness of on-going harm and gender-based violence by:
• Wearing red or hanging a red dress in our windows
• Hanging a red dress or tying red ribbon or cloth to a tree in our yards
• Creating Red Dress artwork
• Participating in community Red Dress events and ceremonies
“The City of Timmins is committed to supporting initiatives that foster a deeper understanding of the critical issues faced by our Indigenous peers,” says Mayor George Pirie. “Our response is unequivocal: we will stand united in ending violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people living in and visiting the City of Timmins.”
Red Dress Day can be triggering for those affected by loss related to missing and murdered women, girls and two-spirited people. Emotional support and assistance are available by calling 1-844-413-6649. Health Support Services including cultural support and mental health counselling is also available in Ontario by calling 1-888-301-6426.
Amanda Dyer
The City of Timmins will host approximately 200 evacuees from Kashechewan First Nation, following evacuation of the First Nations community due to flooding on the Albany River. Flights began arriving Sunday, May 1 and will continue through Monday.
The City of Timmins has declared a State of Emergency as a preventive measure to allow for the quick mobilization of municipal support and personnel if required. Upon arrival, all evacuees will be processed and situated by the Red Cross before being transported to the Ramada Inn for temporary lodging.
The City of Timmins is working with the Provincial Emergency Response Organization (PEOC) and Indigenous Service Canada (ISC), along with community partners and service agencies, to ensure residents of Kashechewan have the support and resources they need while in Timmins. We ask that motorists traveling along Riverside Drive in the vicinity of Ramada Inn watch for increased pedestrian traffic.
Amanda Dyer
|