Anne D’Amico was born and raised in Verdun. She uses an electric wheelchair to get around the borough, but said the task is becoming increasingly difficult in the face of blitz-like construction that is tearing up streets and breaking up sidewalks.
D’Amico said she increasingly finds herself having to alter basic routes for errands as sidewalks close and asphalt turns to gravel — at least five streets are currently under construction in the borough to replace pipes that are about a century old.
Borough officials concede some of the construction is behind schedule — 4th Avenue is a week behind, Argyle Avenue is at least two. But residents like D’Amico say the work, behind schedule or not, isn’t being done with an eye toward maintaining accessibility to homes in the community.
“I think every city councillor should sit in a wheelchair for a week and see what it’s like,” she told Global News. She said she hoped the city would plan projects better in the future. With plastic pipes lying above ground on some streets, and asphalt still not laid on others, workers are racing against the winter-time clock.
According to Borough Councillor Pierre L’Heureux, Verdun is tightening accessibility rules so that contractors ensure homes and walkways are accessible. He added the borough should finish with construction likely within the first week of December.
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