Head-bumping hazard to stay put — for now
Is a pedestrian-packed sidewalk the right place for an equipment cabinet with a smaller box mounted to its side that’s perfectly positioned to be a head-bumping hazard?
The city says you betcha, at least for now.
Barbara Gough emailed me about construction along Bloor Street West that in recent months has “created a few pedestrian hazards, but this seems to be the worst,” she said.
“A pole was inserted in the middle of the very busy sidewalk on the northeast corner of Bloor and Spadina (Road), and they added a large metal box of unknown function, with a smaller metal box sticking out at the height of the head of most pedestrians.”
I found a peculiar metal box mounted to a pole that was sunk into gravel in the sidewalk at Bloor and Spadina, tattooed with graffiti, including a pair of searching eyes that seem to be scanning the corner.
It was obviously some sort of an equipment cabinet, so big and obvious that nobody is likely to stumble into it. But the smaller box mounted to its side? Now that’s another story.
Gough perfectly described the threat; it would be easy for someone with their nose glued to their phone to overlook it, especially at night, and gash their head on its sharp edges.
STATUS: It had the look of a fixture that might not be permanent, so I asked the city what’s inside of it, why it was put there and if that’s where it’ll stay.
A long, windy reply said that work being done on Bloor, between Spadina and Avenue Road, is intended to “enhance accessibility and safety for all road users.”
“This work includes reconstruction of the road base and replacement of the asphalt surface, sidewalk replacement and accessibility upgrades, the installation of 800 metres of new raised cycle tracks on both sides of Bloor Street and a protected intersection at Bloor Street and St. George Street.
“To ensure the safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, the work also includes upgrading and changing the location of the traffic signals,” the city’s note said, adding that construction will resume in April and finish this summer.
“In the interim, the city installed temporary traffic signals at this location. The box you noted contains the controls for the temporary signals. (It) is located in this position due to its proximity to the original traffic signal control box and to the existing electrical infrastructure, including electrical feeds and wiring, which are needed to operate the signals.
“The city has implemented a number of measures to enhance pedestrians’ awareness of the box including barrels and, more recently, a fence. The city is making every effort to ensure the safety of pedestrians while the box is in its temporary position. Permanent signals are scheduled for installation in August 2024.”