Advertisement

Large increase in watermain breaks compared to last year: City of Toronto

Click to play video: 'Watermain break leads to massive, costly crater on Yonge Street'
Watermain break leads to massive, costly crater on Yonge Street
WATCH ABOVE: A bus-sized sink hole appeared on Yonge Street near York Mills Road after a watermain break. As Jamie Mauracher reports, it's an issue on the rise and one that's not just putting dents in the road but city coffers as well – Jan 11, 2018

As Toronto continues to deal with shifting weather conditions, city staff the number of watermain breaks is three times higher this year compared to last year.

“When it gets really cold, the ground shifts and cracks our old cast iron pipes,” Bill Shea, director of distribution for the City of Toronto, told Global News Thursday.

According to statistics provided by city staff, there have been approximately 250 watermain breaks in Toronto since Dec. 28.

News of the increase comes as a portion of Yonge Street at York Mills Road remains closed after a massive sinkhole developed in the area following a watermain break on Wednesday.

Story continues below advertisement

The sinkhole began to materialize at about noon in the area just south of Highway 401.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Water service to homes and businesses was closed off at around 5 p.m. as crews began to figure out a way to fill the crater-sized hole.

Southbound traffic on Yonge Street has been reduced to one lane until the repairs are complete.

Meanwhile, another smaller sinkhole developed on Pape Avenue in the city’s east end on Wednesday.

Authorities said the sinkhole was also linked to a broken watermain.

Pape Avenue has been closed between Gamble and Torrens for repairs.

Story continues below advertisement

With files from Jamie Mauracher

Sponsored content

AdChoices