Chine Drive
By Earl Abalajon
Reconstruction is underway on one of the prettiest streets in Scarborough, Chine Drive, ten years after the City of Toronto first discussed the need for repairs.
It’s been thirty years since Chine Drive was last resurfaced and now preliminary construction has begun, with surveyors measuring the winding road and loads of new water main pipes being delivered to the area.
Both the watermain and sewer are being replaced and the construction of the highly debated sidewalk will begin soon after.
Sidewalk still controversial
Much like the current condition of the uneven, bumpy roadway, residents of the area are mixed in their opinions of the construction of the new sidewalk.
“The sidewalk in my opinion is redundant,” said Herb Harvey, a retired high school teacher who’s lived on Chine Drive for over 40 years, “There’s never been any accidents here, so what’s all the fuss about?”
Brian Hicks, a 32-year resident of the area, is against the new sidewalk, but is at least pleased that the sidewalk will be interlocked and add to the aesthetic of the neighborhood.
Hicks said that many of the older residents shared his dispositions on the sidewalk, and only the residents with young children were in favour of a new sidewalk.
“I think a bigger issue is the traffic in the area, no one really walks their kids to school anymore,” said Hicks, who was in favour of a proposal to create another entrance just south of Chine Drive Public School off of south Brimley Road, but it did not go through, “A new sidewalk won’t fix the traffic.”
Sidewalk supporters
More recent members of the community, including the residents of 56 Chine Drive, who’ve only been in the area for five years, are more understanding of the situation and welcome the reconstruction.
The two sisters who live there are all for a safer option for school children who walk to school and are especially pleased about the new water mains, which will greatly improve the state of their property.
Construction is scheduled to completed by August 1 this summer and residents can expect work to typically take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and after hours or weekends if it is required.
It should be noted that the water service, the pipe which connects to the municipal water main to each property, will only be replaced if it is considered substandard, which includes damage to the water service, or if the water service is made of lead or galvanized metal.
The portion of the water service which is situated on the owner’s property will not be replaced by the city and it is up to the owner to replace their own water service if necessary.
