August 25, 2005

Roadbuilding

Tenders for flood damage repairs to be expedited

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

The city of Toronto plans to expedite its usual tendering processes to facilitate repair of key roads and facilities damaged by last Friday’s massive flooding.

“It will be a very quick process,” spokesman Kevin Sack said Tuesday. “Some of the construction and repair work has to take place immediately.”

He said the city’s emergency procurement guidelines will be followed. However, Sack had “no idea” which projects will be tendered.

“We are still doing some design work internally with engineering staff for a few of the projects that have to be undertaken.”

Some repair work already is under way, by a mix of city crews and private contractors. In a statement, the city said one of the major transportation-related projects that must be done is repair of the collapsed section of Finch Avenue West past Sentinel Road that was washed away as a result of the heavy rain and flooding.

That repair work is expected to take approximately three to four months to complete, at an estimated cost of approximately $5 million. The city said transportation staff are inspecting various roads and overpasses for any damages sustained as a result of the storm and flood.

Damage to the Highland Creek wastewater treatment plant is being assessed, but is expected to exceed $1 million.

The city said the plant was flooded and sustained damage to approximately 30 per cent of its equipment and operations.

Emergency bypass of stormwater was activated in order to protect equipment.

A broken trunk sewer was discovered after water levels in Highland Creek receded. The sewer measures 48 inches in diameter.

Toronto Water crews are working to divert the flow of the creek away from the broken pipe and allow crews to repair the trunk sewer.

City staff are inspecting watercourses and sewers for damage.

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