Out-of-date sign warned Blantyre drivers to steer clear
Road closed on weekdays for condo construction that finished years ago
Drivers assume that road signs convey accurate information, but some things on temporary signs are best ignored.
With construction around every corner — or so it seems — the need to inform drivers about traffic obstructions is paramount. The more informed a driver is, the more likely that traffic tangles can be avoided, or at least anticipated.
Good signage is key to telling them what they’re likely to find around the corner. In most cases, the city and its contractors, as well as those who put up new buildings, make reasonable efforts to keep drivers informed. But when the signage is out-of-date and no longer relevant, it amounts to a bum steer, advising drivers to make detours and evasive manoeuvres that are not necessary.
William Goodfellow emailed to say a temporary road sign at Gerrard Street East and Blantyre Avenue has long been telling drivers to stay away, but is dead wrong.
“A road closure sign has been at the southeast corner of Blantyre and Gerrard for two years,” said Goodfellow. “It was relevant whilst a new condo was being built on Kingston Road.
“That same condo has been completed and occupied for over a year, but the sign remains,” said Goodfellow, who added that it must be “confusing” for drivers.
I went to Gerrard and Blantyre and found a sign that said Blantyre was closed on weekdays at Meadow Avenue. It was angled to catch the attention of eastbound traffic on Gerrard.
Meadow is a short block that runs along the rear of the condo that was under construction at Kingston Road and Blantyre. The project required Blantyre to be closed to allow sufficient space for the job.
The sign served a good purpose while the job was underway, but has been misinforming drivers ever since. Status: Eric Holmes, a spokesperson for transportation services, sent a note saying that city workers removed the sign right away, after they got The Fixer’s email about it. What's broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. Email
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