When Ontario doles out Connecting Link funding in 2021, Timmins wants a cut of it.
Staff is applying for a $3-million grant, which is the maximum available through the program.
It's for a section of Algonquin Boulevard from Mattagami Boulevard South just east of the bridge to Theriault Boulevard. The work includes replacing old infrastructure that is nearing its end of life.
"That segment was identified as the most critical," Pat Seguin, director of Public Works and Engineering, told council.
The city had planned to do the work this year, but the project was cancelled after the sole bid received was for $8.5 million. The city's engineer had estimated the project would cost about $6.1 million.
The 2021 roads program allocates $7.8 million for the project, according to the staff report.
The city applied for 2020 Connecting Link funding. When the funding was doled out, Matheson and Kapuskasing projects made the cut, but Timmins was not on the list.
Seguin said the city has been lucky getting Connecting Link funding every second year.
In Timmins, the Connecting Link is a 21.35-kilometre stretch of Highway 101 running from Kamiskotia Road in the west to the old railway tracks in Porcupine.
Since 2016 more than $19 million of roadwork has been done on about five kilometres from the top of Rae Hill to Legion Drive.
Earlier this year, changes were made to the city's heavy truck bylaw along the Connecting Link.
Heavy trucks travelling along Highway 101 — which is also known as Harold Avenue, King Street, Algonquin and Riverside at various points — are required to use the curbside lane in both directions from Falcon Street in Porcupine to Government Road in the west end of town.
