Crumbling Gardiner: Federal Inaction Dangerous

As Gardiner Disintegrates and Concrete Chunks Hits Moving Car, Conservatives Refuse to Act

June 25, 2012

TORONTO – After another concrete chunk fell off the Gardiner today – this time hitting a passing vehicle – NDP Transport and Infrastructure Critic Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) condemned the Conservative government for refusing to help fix the Gardiner Expressway.

“Loose concrete is falling from the Gardiner at an alarming rate, and every incident comes closer to seriously injuring a driver or pedestrian. Last time a chunk fell in front of a vehicle, this time a piece fell right on a moving car,” said Chow. “What is it going to take for the federal government to start paying attention? How bad are they willing to let the situation get?”

Last month Chow called on the government to show some leadership and work with the city and province to help fix Toronto’s crumbling Gardiner Expressway. The City of Toronto has estimated that repairs to the Gardiner could cost over $150 million. But Chow pointed out that not only aren’t they helping to solve the problem, Conservatives cuts are actually making it harder for cities like Toronto to keep up with aging infrastructure costs.

“By cutting $350 million from the green infrastructure fund, and replacing it with a much smaller $75 million program, cities are receiving less money to deal with their $123 billion infrastructure deficit,” said Chow. “Conservatives need to take responsibility for Canada’s decaying infrastructure. It’s about time the Transport Minister comes to Toronto to see the Gardiner for himself. I highly recommend he bring a helmet.”

Read more posts about: ,