.jpg;w=960)
Drivers should pack their patience in the west end of Timmins.
Work on the second segment of the Connecting Link being reconstructed this year has started. It means that Riverside Drive between Shirley Street and Government Road is reduced to one lane in each construction.
"All access points and entries to roads and businesses along Riverside Drive will be maintained throughout construction," reads a City of Timmins notice.
"Motorists can expect delays and traffic congestion. Commercial vehicle trucks will still use the Shirley Street turn to connect with the standard truck detour along Laforest Road. Some pavement milling in the outside curb lanes will be carried out to smooth entry points into adjacent roads and business entries."
Miller Paving has the $11.98-million contract for the project.
RELATED: Sidewalk from Timmins Square to Home Depot area part of project
The project includes restoring the asphalt, drainage improvements, new curbs, a sidewalk on the north side between Government Road and Shirley Street, new street lights and upgrades to the traffic signals.
The sidewalk will be on the north side and will allow people to walk from the Timmins Square to the intersection of Government Road and Riverside, where the Home Depot plaza is.
The other segment of Connecting Link work being done in 2023 is in the downtown area from Wilcox to Cedar Street. For that construction, Algonquin Boulevard is currently closed east of Waterloo to Elm Street.
During the first phase of work downtown — to complete the section not finished last year — westbound traffic is diverted to the north detour, which is Elm Street to Fifth Avenue, north on Mountjoy to Vimy then west on Vimy to Theriault Boulevard, which leads back to Algonquin. There is a temporary three-way stop at Vimy and Mountjoy and a four-way stop at Theriault and Vimy.
The south detour is Cameron Street to Commercial Avenue, north on Mountjoy to Third Avenue, then north on Elm to Algonquin. There are temporary traffic lights at Commercial and Cameron, and Commercial and Mountjoy.
Heavy truck traffic is being sent around the downtown core altogether.
That detour includes Shirley Street, Lafleur Drive, Laforest and Highway 655.
The temporary 50 km/h speed zone is back in place for the heavy truck detour and will see the speed limit drop on Airport Road for about 1.25 kilometres after the Laforest intersection.
