Residents living close to the York/Bay/Yonge ramp that is being torn down on the Gardiner are upset with the city for doing work in the middle of the night to tear down the ramp over Simcoe Street.
Patrick Leo lives next to the ramp and told Global News he was notified months ago that construction would take place between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday but was not told it would take place at 2:30 a.m., which is what happened Friday night into Saturday morning and is scheduled to continue again Saturday and Sunday night.
“While it has been a severe inconvenience, I understand it needs to be done, but at no time was I notified that work would be done at 2:30 a.m. on a weekday,” wrote the resident in an email to Global News.
WATCH: Overnight Gardiner ramp construction noise rattles residents
Another resident, Alex Zamora, is another resident frustrated by the excessive noise from the construction. Zamora told Global News that he has lived in his condo since 2009 and that the area is generally pretty quiet.
“Last night, around 10 p.m., noise started to happen outside and I was thinking ‘What is that?’ and I saw that they were starting to work on the Gardiner,” Zamora said. “I thought it would go until midnight – I’m okay with that – but then it continued until 2 a.m., 3 a.m.
“So I didn’t get any sleep and now I’m tired.”
READ MORE: York-Bay-Yonge exit on eastbound Gardiner Expressway closed permanently
Mayor John Tory told reporters the city tried to give as much notice as possible but that the overhead work being done this weekend can’t be done during the day, especially on a weekday.
“I realize that doesn’t make it much better for the people that had to suffer through that noise, but it is for a week,” said Tory. “It may happen again in the context of work that we have to get done.
“We are trying to find every possible way to speed these things up so we can get the city back to normal.”
Tory apologized to the people affected but said, “it is the balance we have to strike between getting work done and making sure it isn’t too noisy too much of the time.”
Councillor Joe Cressy told Global News he agrees with the upset residents that the construction should not have been done overnight. Cressy said the decision was out of his hands because for projects of city-wide and municipal importance, it is up to city staff to determine work hours.
While he does understand the construction needs to be done, Cressy said it should be done under extended hours rather thanovernight.
“In an attempt to minimize disruption for commuters, they have maximized disruption for residents,” Cressy said.
“Residents of downtown were willing to put up with a certain level of construction, it’s expected, but it shouldn’t happen overnight.”
Lower Simcoe Street bewteen Harbour Street and Queens Quay Boulevard was closed Friday at 10:00 p.m. and will reopen at 5:00 a.m. Monday.
- Toronto Pearson gold heist: Ontario man arrested at airport after arriving from India
- Capital gains changes could have ‘irreversible’ effects, business groups warn
- A ‘zombie’ virus is raging among raccoons. What to know
- Could notwithstanding clause be used on abortion? Poilievre’s office says ‘never’
Comments