Some Roncesvalles sidewalks already need asphalt patches
Sidewalks made of paving stones look nice, but can be more trouble than they’re worth. People who live near Roncesvalles Ave. endured construction for more than a year for major streetscape improvements, including new sidewalks that were completed in 2011. Paving stones were installed along the business district on the east side of Roncesvalles, which are more attractive and inviting than a drab cement sidewalk. But sidewalk bricks are susceptible to frost heaving and other infirmities in the ground, which cause them to lift and become a tripping hazard. Michael Mcarthur emailed us a link to a photo that showed a stretch of the Roncesvalles sidewalk where many of the stones were replaced with asphalt. “Does this make any sense?” asked Mcarthur, a reasonable question since they’re almost new. We went there and noticed the sidewalk is made almost entirely of paving stones on the east side of Roncesvalles, for about a half dozen blocks south of Fermanagh Ave. Hundreds of bricks have been taken out between Fermanagh and Garden Ave., with an extensive patchwork of asphalt filling the spaces.
Sidewalk bricks in Bloor West Village proved so troublesome that they were replaced with standard sidewalks last year, which are less costly and offer much better footing.
The city has had similar problems with paving stones in other areas, which should have been taken into account before a decision was made to install them on Roncesvalles.
If they’re intended to beautify the street, taking them out and filling the holes with asphalt surely defeats the purpose.
STATUS: John Kelly, a manager in the city’s technical services department, said the stones were installed because they can be removed for utility work below ground and then replaced, instead of carving into a sidewalk. The problem appears to involve the base in which the stones are seated, which runs above a trench that provides air and moisture to newly planted street trees, he said. They will be replaced in the spring, after the cause of the lifting is identified and resolved, said Kelly. What’s broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. To email us, go to www.thestar.com/thefixer and click on the submit a problem link. Or call us at 416-869-4823.