Construction just around the corner for Vernon’s new Tim Hortons

VERNON – Construction on Vernon’s latest Tim Hortons is expected to start soon across from Beairtso Elementary School.

Southborough Vernon Investments Ltd. director David Longpré says the company plans to break ground within the next month and complete the drive-through Tim Hortons and CO-OP Gas Bar by the end of the year.

“There’s anticipations it will do well, and will bring a desired service to the public,” Longpré says of the project. “It’s on Vernon’s busiest traffic corridor, and we understand that traffic corridor, if anything, has been growing in terms of traffic volume.”

The project has drawn criticism from concerned parents who say it will create further traffic-related issues at an already busy intersection. The Beairtso Parent Advisory Council made a number of recommendations for improved safety in the area, but felt most were ignored by council.

As part of the city’s approval for the project, the developers agreed to contribute $80,000 for intersection upgrades at 35 Avenue and 27 Street.

“It’s a measure their traffic and engineering departments determined was important to the safety of the intersection,” Longpré says.

In addition to contributing funds toward the intersection improvements, Longpré says the company has met all the city’s requirements regarding the building plan.

“Our design conforms to the measures they advised us to meet,” he says.

Longpré says the new Tim Hortons will feature a fresh new look and will look 'very classy' and 'quite attractive.'

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.