**CITY OF TIMMINS MEDIA RELEASE**

The City of Timmins is pleased to announce, that thanks to $3 Million in funding from the Ministry of Transportation, Phase three of the Connecting Link Project is now underway.

Manager of Engineering Pat Seguin explained the third year of the project will see work begin at the Bruce Y and proceed east toward Legion Drive. Work will also be done to rehabilitate the Porcupine River Box Culvert, which will ensure a complete restoration of the area’s infrastructure is completed simultaneously, as well as the installation of improved lighting.

Preparations and excavation work for the culvert replacement are already underway and we are asking motorists to proceed with caution when traveling through any and all construction areas, ensuring the safety of everyone involved.

“This is a priority area of the Connecting Link due to the culvert being at end of life, and significant deterioration of pavement in the area,” explained Seguin. “The Connecting Link represents one of the most important infrastructure assets in the City of Timmins and the reconstruction plan is a core priority for the City of Timmins. We have been able to complete an unprecedented amount of work on the Connecting Link this term and that is in large part due to the partnership resulting from the Government of Ontario acknowledging and addressing their role in the work.”

Through the Ministry’s Connecting Links Program, Ontario is helping municipalities repair their roadways and bridges that connect two ends of a provincial highway through a community or to a border crossing. The Timmins connecting link is one of the largest in the province, including just over 21km of highway.

“This generous funding will allow us to continue work on the connecting link for the third straight year,” said Timmins CAO Dave Landers. “The connecting link has been a major priority for the City of Timmins for many years and we are happy to be able to move forward to the next phase with the assistance of government funding. Last year, we had to finance the second phase of the project entirely with municipal dollars and it is encouraging to have the province return as a partner for the third year of this critical infrastructure work. This is the second time in three years that the City of Timmins has successfully lobbied and received the maximum funding allowed under the provincial program.”