A South Porcupine councillor is looking to slow down traffic coming into and out of the community.
At Tuesday's Timmins council meeting, Coun. Mickey Auger talked about the speed limit on Highway 101, which turns into Harold Avenue in South Porcupine. There was no report for or decision made on the item at the meeting.
In the last little while, Auger said he's been getting calls from people on Harold who say the vehicles are going too fast.
Auger suggested dropping the speed limit on Highway 101 East to 70 km/h at the Tisdale Transfer Station then to 50 km/h at the first house in Finntown, which what the residential area on the north side of Highway 101 west of the OPP station is referred as.
Right now, the speed limit is 80 km/h until just after the Bruce Y when it drops to 70 km/h. Just past that it drops again to 50 km/h.
“I think what’s happening is … when going east towards The Beer Store, you’ve only got about maybe 100 feet as you go around the bend and you’re right there at Legion Drive,” he said.
Heading west out of South Porcupine, Auger suggested the speed limit should be 50 or 60 km/h until after the last house in Finntown.
Recently, Timmins Police put up its mobile radar device that shows people how fast they are driving and what the speed limit is near The Beer Store exit on Harold Avenue.
“I find that very beneficial because the folks will slow down when they see that it’s a 50 and they’re doing 60,” said Mayor George Pirie.
Pirie drives that stretch or road every day and agrees traffic is going too fast. He also noted the kids who try to cross the highway at Legion Drive.
“There’s a huge issue with the speed on Harold and just past the Y it drops to 70 then it drops down to 50. Every single day people are passing me probably doing 70 or 80 right through almost to the lights,” he said. The traffic lights are located at Main Street and Harold.
This is not the first time the speed limit on Highway 101 East has been up for discussion.
Last year, it was a topic at the Timmins Police Services Board table.
At that time, members talked about starting the 70 km/h zone earlier and doubling speed fines. Those items were not acted on, however, police did an enforcement blitz in the area.
