Grate expectations for swift road hazard removal
Frost, thaw, frost, thaw — a vicious cycle in northern climes and a formula for disaster as water seeps into tiny cracks, freezes and melts over and over, creating deep fissures in roads, sidewalks and even buildings, destroying what man has wrought.
This winter has been brutal on grates and storm sewer covers, many of which have caved in and separated from road surfaces.
Reader Lee Shimano noticed a “huge caved-in area” around the storm sewer on the north side of Eighth St. and Lake Shore Blvd. in south Etobicoke. The space between metal cover and pavement is so big “an adult could get their entire foot into the hole,” she wrote in an email to the Fixer.
It’s dangerous for all pedestrians but more so for the disabled. “There are blind folks who walk the route to the bus,” she wrote.
Sure enough, the hole is huge and could easily cause some serious damage to anyone who gets their foot caught.
The city must have received complaints about the situation because a pylon is sitting atop the grate, but it’s not much of a barrier. That orange plastic cone could easily be kicked over or blown away by unseasonably strong winds like the ones Torontonians have battled recently.
Thing is, Shimano noticed the sunken grate and pylon back in mid-March and we’re already halfway through April. What’s the holdup? Granted, it looks like a big job, noth- ing a few shovels of asphalt will resolve. Still, the area must be secured properly with some kind of temporary barrier or fence. With the weather improving, more people are out and about in this lakefront community and immediate attention must be given to this hazard. Status: Steve Johnston, who deals with the media in the city’s transportation services division, said staff will investigate and report back as to when the grate will be repaired. What’s broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. To contact us, go to thestar.com/thefixer or call us at 416869-4823. To read our blog, go to thestar.blogs.com/thefixer. Report problems and follow us on Twitter @TOStarFixer.