Work on the final downtown segment of the Connecting Link moves ahead Monday, April 15 with full closure of Algonquin Blvd. E. between Balsam St. and west of Brunette Rd. The current road closure will be expanded along Algonquin Blvd. E. to east of the Balsam St. intersection, and will close the Pine St. and Cedar St. intersections.
Grinding operations will start early next week to remove layers of asphalt from the road surface. This is expected to take 3-5 days. During that time, pedestrians crossing Algonquin Blvd. north to south will be able to cross at the Balsam St. and Brunette Rd. intersections on either end of the construction zone. This is temporary. Once initial grinding operations are complete, a pedestrian crossing will be placed at Pine St.
Sidewalks along the east and west of Algonquin Blvd. E. will remain open while grinding is completed, safely blocked off from the active construction area.
Temporary traffic detours are already in place, with detour signage installed before Brunette Rd. and Mountjoy St. Motorists are asked to detour at Brunette Rd. or Mountjoy St. S., along Second Ave. Drivers should be prepared to stop at temporary traffic lights on Second Ave. at Brunette Rd. and Mountjoy St. S. Heavy truck traffic is being diverted at Shirley St. and Hwy. 655.
“City contractors are expediting site preparation, including removal of the existing asphalt,” says Scott Tam, Director of Growth and Infrastructure. “Once the overpass is removed, they will be ready to start work on excavation. We are closing the full construction zone to provide space for staging of materials and equipment, instead of using valuable municipal parking space in the downtown core.”
Removal of the overpass began earlier this month, with contractors removing ballast rock, saw cutting the concrete to begin removal, and drilling to remove concrete from embedded steel. The steel will be later cut and recycled.
For more information on the Connecting Link, visit: https://www.timmins.ca/our_services/engineering/connecting_links/2024_-_segment_8
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