'Phase 2' of the city's long-term Connecting Link project is temporarily on hold due to a mechanical issue with a nearby asphalt plant
Public Works said paving on Highway 101 East, in the vicinity of the Tisdale Cemetery, as well as numerous other road repairs around the city will be on hold until sometime next week. Miller Paving's asphalt plant on Highway 655 is currently 'non-operational'. It is the sole source of asphalt in the area.
In June, Miller Paving Limited won the contract for a 1.2 kilometre stretch in front of the cemetery westerly towards Rae Hill, which will cost the city more thatn $3.5 million. The City of Timmins was shut out of provincial funding this year, after receiving the maximum last year in the Government of Ontario's Connecting Links Program.
Crews are now taking up 'non asphalt related' work in the meantime.
Once it does resume, the plan will continue on with the same thickness of asphalt that caused plenty of controversy in the council chambers last year. The city says its for a 'more durable and sustainable roadway.'
This year's work will once again include the paved shoulders, or bicycle lanes. as well as additional lighting, which will illuminate a previously pitch black section of the city's main thoroughfare.
The improvements will end just shy of the slope on Rae Hill, so the city has at least one more year to decide on what to do about an often discussed median on the hill. It has been the setting for several fatal accidents in recent decades, particularly in the winter. Many councillors have spoken about a need for something to be installed on the slope to avoid head-on collisions.
"There is no update regarding the median. We are currently looking at the full design and will go back to council on this once we have another look at safety, costing, and the broader fiscal reality of the project," said City of Timmins Chief Administrative Officer Dave Landers.
City of Timmins Chief Administrative Officer Dave Landers speaks at a city council meeting in May. Andrew Autio for TimminsToday Landers told council in May that a new 'risk-based' approach was needed for the project, estimated to take 10 years. He proposed the city borrow $4 million for work over the next decade, which was ultimately approved by council.
After Miller Paving's bid was the only one received for this year's work, he is cautiously hoping for more interest in the project moving forward.
"We were pleased to see the pricing that was available this year in comparison to previous years, though we would like the chance to review more than one bid."
It was noted by Mayor Steve Black during a meeting in June that the bid was approximately $260,000 below what the city expected to spend on the project in 2017.
The original 10-year plan is currently being re-examined, and the area for 'Phase 3' next summer hasn't been set in stone.
"Currently staff are looking at the broader plan and will bring that back to council. As discussed at council earlier this year, we want to have a design in place for the full project and are pushing for ongoing support from our provincial partners. Our ability to really move this forward will be largely dependent upon that support, as we will be hard pressed to continue to debenture the construction year after year," said Landers.
