Speed limit signs heading out of South Porcupine are being changed back after being erroneously moved last week.
Recently, speed zone changes were approved for eastbound traffic on Highway 101 heading into South Porcupine from Timmins.
The speed drops are the same — 70 km/h from 80 km/h, then another decrease to 50 km/h — but now start before the Bruce Avenue wye instead of after. Timmins council approved the changes at its March 22 meeting and the signs were moved Wednesday, April 6.
When the speed limit signs were changed, city crews also moved the westbound signs in error. That moved the start of the 80 km/h zone to after Finn Town (the residential area on the north side of the highway) instead of shortly after the OPP station. Westbound changes were not included in the bylaw that council approved.
"Current posted speed limit signs will be moved back to their previous location to accurately reflect the current bylaw," said Amanda Dyer, communications co-ordinator, in an email.
As of 1 p.m., the signs had not been moved.
TimminsToday asked when the error would be fixed and for an explanation of what happened. The city responded saying it's "working on a remedy."
Earlier this week, Timmins Police sent out a traffic advisory about enforcing the speed limit changes in both directions.
Police are taking an educational stance in that area and no tickets were handed out to westbound drivers, said Timmins Police communications co-ordinator Marc Depatie.
It's not clear if changing the speed zone for westbound traffic will be brought back to council.
At the council meeting the changes were approved, Coun. Mickey Auger asked about it.
“It’s a more difficult thing to try to slow people down when you’re entering a higher speed. You’re going into four lanes, you’re getting into that faster area,” explained Pat Seguin, Timmins director of growth and infrastructure.
He said it wasn't something staff looked at because they were trying to deal with the issue of drivers speeding heading into an urban area.
