THUNDER BAY – Roadwork, traffic and flooding were the primary concerns for south-end residents at a sometimes heated ward meeting Wednesday evening.
Roughly 26 residents attended the meeting at the West Arthur Community Centre to voice their concerns about road maintenance.
Project engineer Michael Pontello, director of engineering facilities Mathew Miedema, and roads manager Ian Spoljarich attended to field questions.
“I drive Arthur Street quite frequently, so I really want to take the opportunity to sort of know what’s going on with regard to that,” Kristen Anderson told Newswatch after the meeting.
She said it could take up to 30 minutes to get out of the Parkdale subdivision because of traffic pile-ups between Parkdale Boulevard and Highway 61.
Traffic lanes on Arthur Street between the two intersections were reduced for resurfacing work in September 2025, and the remainder of the work was carried over into 2026.
The project included asphalt resurfacing, repairs to curbs and gutters, catch basins, maintenance holes and replacement of catch basin lead pipes.
Anderson asked why the contractor couldn’t work during the night as opposed to the day.
“In other cities there’s pavement jobs that happen in the evenings. So, I think that that’s something that would be feasible,” she said.
Pontello said there is no specific language in the contract that requires the contractor to work at night explicitly, and adding those requirements in the contract could potentially add cost to the project.
Miedema added the construction is near a residential neighbourhood and the city didn’t want to disturb residents with overnight noise.
“I think that there could be more proactive opportunities taken. I do understand financially that there are various constraints. I also understand that there’s an impact to city residents with regard to certain things that kind of go on. But I do feel that, overall, the meeting did provide some interesting information,” Anderson said.
Tony Casasanta said over the last several years his basement has flooded due to blockages in the culvert near his home.
Several other residents living near Casasanta were at the meeting voicing the same concern.
“Some of the issues were fixed, which is nice. It’s not totally fixed. There are culvert issues. There are creeks that need to be cleaned out all the way down to Pennock (Drive). It doesn’t allow the water to flow in the area, which will alleviate other people from flooding,” he said.
Casasanta said when he first moved into his home, he barely ever heard his sump pump go off, but now, it’s happening regularly.
He asked at point the problem would get fixed.
Spoljarich said, unfortunately, there is no proactive way to manage water drainage until it becomes a problem.
“Once you start seeing issues there and we have them identified, that’s when we typically go in after and all do the replacements and repairs. That’s kind of the situation we’re in. We’re not in a situation that can be preventative, knowing that there can be issues in the future. We’re kind of just reactionary at this time right now with the operating budget,” Spoljarich said.
Coun. Greg Johnsen began to say the money in the budget is capped before Casasanta cut him off mid-sentence to tell him to “stop making excuses.”
“You can deal with my wife’s PTSD every time the goddamn water’s running. Trust me, and anyone who thinks it’s funny, I’m telling you there’s a lot of stress. You need to set up for some funds,” Casasanta said.
“The reality is there’s only so much money…They go to emergencies first, not that your basement or your house isn’t an emergency, but there’s other areas where they have to go, and then that more or less the money is gone, and then the new season closes in. So, the answer is adding more money, Coun. Greg Johnsen added.
When asked if he was satisfied with the answer he received, Casasanta said he is never 100 per cent satisfied, but he’s making headway.
“Sometime when you’re at these things, you get a little passionate and you kind of realize afterwards, well, you get further talking. But I am going to meet with coun. Johnson and maybe some of the engineers, and I’m having them come out to the neighbourhood and see what we’re dealing with. I know they can’t wave a wand, but we’re part of the way there. You’re not going to get a fix in one night as much as I’d like to, but we’re getting there,” he said.
Aside from attending ward meetings, residents have multiple ways to contact the city if there are issues or concerns. They can use the city website, call dispatch, or reach out to any city councillor.
“It’s hard for me to, to explain to city managers issues when those things aren’t done. I’m not the expert on a particular person’s ditch or pothole on their street. People are. So that has to be done,” he said.
By Clint Fleury, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Jun 05, 2026 at 14:27
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