From the Post:
City warns firm over sinkhole
Garbage truck swallowed near condo project
Katie Rook, National Post
Published: Saturday, September 23, 2006
The city has warned Minto Midtown Inc. it will be on the hook for costs if construction of its condominium development near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue is found to have contributed to a sinkhole that swallowed a garbage truck on Sept. 8.
A letter to Minto, obtained by the National Post, confirms a city investigation into the partial collapse of a public laneway bordering the construction site of two condo towers -- the development of which neighbours protested.
The investigation, expected to conclude next week, will determine if ground water levels and soil conditions were altered by construction and contributed to the collapse, said Raffi Bedrosyan, a city engineer investigating the incident.
"One possibility is because of construction activities," he said. "That's what we're trying to investigate ... if [the sinkhole] is related to construction activities or [if] it's a natural phenomenon.
"If we conclude that the collapse is due to the construction activities, we're putting them on notice," he said. "To recover costs."
The letter, which the Post did not receive from Mr. Bedrosyan, also stated Minto does not have "clearance to proceed with the proposed storm sewer work in the subject laneway" until the investigation is complete and all precautions to protect private and public property have been taken.
Minto vice-president of development Bob Blazevski, to whom the city's letter was addressed, would not confirm receipt of the Sept. 15 document.
"There are sinkholes all over the city; they are fairly common," he said. "I am surprised there is a [media] follow-up on it."
The hole has been back-filled and Minto is co-operating with the city's investigation, he said.
"Our engineers are advising there is no impact to us so we're co-operating with the city if there is anything they need from us."
Mr. Bedrosyan, who wrote the letter, said it was only issued to Minto.
During an afternoon garbage pick-up on Sept. 8 a 27,000-kilogram Wasteco vehicle became lodged in the pavement of a laneway running parallel to Holly Street. Six of the truck's back wheels sank into the 2.5-metre deep, seven-metre long and three-metre wide hole.
Bore holes were being drilled yesterday, while the rat-tat-tat from other nearby construction sites echoed between several low-rise condo buildings and offices overlooking the laneway.
City engineer Maurizio Barbon told insidetoronto.com that further examination of area soil showed the earth about 20 feet below the surface was loose and sandy.
"We're now looking deeper and trying to determine the state of the soil beyond 20 feet and why the soil's in a loose state," he said.
"There might be a void in there and we're trying to figure out what needs to be done. It may require grouting to fill the loose areas with something more solid."
At least one neighbourhood ratepayers association contested the development of 53-storey and 39-storey towers.
Residents have continued to oppose noise levels created by construction.
Chris Sellors, executive assistant to Councillor Michael Walker, said residents had in the past complained of a smaller sinkhole in the area.
The investigation is limited to the laneway, Mr. Bedrosyan said. He does not know of any city investigation into sinkholes in that area.
krook@nationalpost.com
© National Post 2006
AoD