Work on Segment 13 of the City’s two-year Connecting Link project is nearing completion for the 2025 construction season. Highway 101 East (Harold Ave.) between Crawford St. and Lawrence St. is expected to be fully reopened to traffic by the end of November. Paving on the main roadway has been completed for this year. Temporary asphalt has been applied at some access points to ensure the highway can open as winter road conditions set in. These areas will be replaced and finished next year along with the final lift of asphalt throughout Segment 13. Construction of the new north-side sidewalk has been rescheduled to next spring to allow for utility pole relocation and site grading. The south-side sidewalk will be open by the end of November, with some sections of temporary asphalt in place to facilitate winter plowing and sanding. This asphalt will also be replaced in the spring. “Contractors are focused on getting the highway and pedestrian corridor open by the end of November,” said Scott Tam, Director of Growth and Infrastructure. “Work planned for this year has been strategically adjusted to manage what can be completed now, ensuring a productive start in 2026. At the west entrance to Northern College, the new signalized intersection is expected to be operational by the end of November. The addition of traffic lights will improve safety and traffic flow for both motorists and pedestrians. Watermain installation will continue east of Lawrence St. for approximately 350 m. Motorists can expect minor lane reductions throughout December, weather permitting. “Contractors are pushing forward to complete as much as possible,” added Tam. “The additional work scheduled in December will give the project a head start next spring.” Segment 13 is a two-year construction project extending from Crawford St. to the Porcupine River Bridge. It is scheduled for completion in 2026, alongside work on Segment 9 between Brunette Rd. and the Hwy. 655 intersection.
Starting Monday, August 18, the small section of Lawrence St. between Michener Blvd. and Hwy 101 E. will be closed. Contractors will be excavating for in-ground services. We expect the closure to take approximately 2 weeks. Traffic on Hwy 101 E. will not be impacted. A road closed sign will be placed on Ferguson Rd. at Lawrence St. with access for local traffic only. Crawford and Bristol are available for detours. Learn more about the City's full rehabilitation of the Connecting Link at: www.timmins.ca/connecting_link
Plans to begin annual rehabilitation of the City’s Connecting Link were given the green light at last night’s council meeting. Council has awarded the contract for Hwy. 101 reconstruction to GIP Interpaving Ltd. in the amount of $21,758,222 + HST. Segment 13 of the Connecting Link is scheduled this year, with work moving east from Crawford St. to the Porcupine River Bridge. Due to the length of the segment, work is planned over two years and includes full asphalt restoration, drainage improvements, and new street lights and traffic signals. A new sidewalk is being added to the north side of Hwy. 101 between Crawford St. and the Porcupine Mall, which will improve pedestrian safety and walkability along the busy thoroughfare. The City is also planning ahead for future growth and development by upsizing the current watermain, building capacity and efficiency in the City’s water distribution system. “Reconstruction of Segment 13 is top priority due to the age of the infrastructure and asphalt quality,” says Scott Tam, Director of Growth and Infrastructure. “We’re anticipating little to no disruption for residents, business owners, and drivers. This section will require temporary lane reductions only, with no significant traffic detours and minor delays. Access to business entrances will be maintained at all times.” As part of the project, improvements are also being made to the entrance of the Integrated Emergency Services Complex, which includes the Whitney Volunteer Fire Hall, by moving it to align with the traffic lights at the Porcupine Mall. “We have worked with AECOM to ensure that while we rehabilitate the road, we are actively making improvements that will better serve the community,” adds Tam. “We are working to support future development and improve safety along this important transportation corridor.” For more information on the Connecting Link, visit: https://www.timmins.ca/our_services/engineering/connecting_links.
With Algonquin Blvd. E. now open following construction, we understand that there are some concerns with the timing sequence of the lights on Algonquin Blvd. E. between Mountjoy St. and Spruce St. New software and programming has been installed as part of road upgrades. Our staff are currently working with contractors to ensure that everything is working properly. This includes the new lights adjacent to Hollinger Park. We appreciate your patience and will continue to provide updates.
Algonquin Blvd. is scheduled to re-open to traffic between Cedar St. and Brunette Rd. on Thursday, November 21, 2024. This week, contractors will finish temporary line painting and begin turning on the traffic signals between Cedar St. and Brunette Rd., including the new traffic light and crossing on Algonquin Blvd. adjacent to Hollinger Park. The new traffic light for pedestrians and snowmobiles will add another stop along Algonquin Blvd. to allow for safe passage and access to service stations from one side of Algonquin to the other, particularly for snowmobiles accessing the trail network. This is a timed light with a standard green, yellow, and red sequence. Traffic will be stopped for three situations: on-demand pedestrian crossing, on-demand snowmobile crossing (seasonal only), and timed for left-turns exiting KFC. Starting today (November 18), crews will begin to remove the temporary traffic controls (traffic lights) at Brunette Rd./Second Ave. and Second Ave./Mountjoy St. S. Over the next 3 days, the temporary stop signs on Sixth Ave. (east-west traffic) will be removed. The traffic lights in the downtown core will return to signaled lights on weekdays between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Temporary speed limits on Airport Rd. from Laforest Rd. through the area of the Kraft Creek Bridge (approximately 1.25 km's) will be removed. The temporary heavy commercial truck traffic detour will end once Algonquin Blvd. re-opens. Timmins Transit’s Route 16 stop at Park Road Square will resume once Algonquin Blvd. is open. Reminder: The stop sign on Pine St. N. at Sixth Ave. is now a permanent 4-way stop. Once the detours are removed and the road is open, please use extra caution when driving. Obey all posted traffic signage. Be patient with other drivers as we re-learn the original routes. Thank you for your continued patience as we’ve navigated 7 months of construction. This section completes all three downtown segments.