Toronto - Finch Ave - Collapse (Pictures)

[donk]

Southern Ontario has just gone through a series of heavy rainfalls and even tornados touching down. In Toronto, due to teh number of creeks and ravines there has been some flooding. The most noticeable and destructive is on Finch Avenue. Finch is a major east west arterial in the north of the City. TP can probably provide some stats.

It is assumed that it will be closed for at least a month.

Good news was a cop escorted me to spots the public could not get to, the big lens makes people think you are more important then you are.











If developers or politicians argue about the cost of storm water management ponds and overflow capacity the cost of fixing this mess should shock them.

[jordanb]

I hope that's just a sinkhole, and not a collapsed subway tube?

[Cardinal]

In the Denver area, Highway 6 between Golden and Idaho Springs has been closed since June due to a rock slide. ( http://www.dot.state.co.us/Advisoriesphotos.cfm ) A couple weeks ago another rock slide closed Interstate 70 for about ten days.

[donk]

Here is the location of the washout(gotta love google maps)



I've highlighted teh creek and the limit of the flooding as toild to me by the cop I spoke to.

The water at that location has probably 15-20 feet above normal, and could not get through the culvert so undermined the road.

Seeing the bike path at the north end of teh picture, I'll try to sneak in there to snap a few more pics.

[Hceux]

I hope that's just a sinkhole, and not a collapsed subway tube?

jordanbThere isn't a subway tube up in this end of Toronto, although we Torontonians - especially those who commute to and from York University for school/work/sports/transportation terminal/etc - have been dying for an extension of the Spadina/University subway to be extended from Downsview to York University.

But, thankfully, it's not a subway tube. But, now I have to think what will happen to the commuting to York University since that the connection between Jane and Keele has been cut off by this gap on Keele Street. Boy, the traffic is going to be screwed up just in time for school!

donk, it's absolutely stunning to believe that the gap is there. Thanks for posting these pictures. I was meaning to see the gap myself today, but I got busy today. Now that I've seen it, I'm going for a short walk to visit this gap to see it and believe it. What's really freaky is that when I was walking back from the public library (on the west side of the gap), I walked across that bridge that crosses the ravine park a half hour before the rainstorm came down!!!

By the way, donk, do you live close to this gap of Finch Ave? Or did you make a concerted effort to take these photos?

[donk]

By the way, donk, do you live close to this gap of Finch Ave? Or did you make a concerted effort to take these photos?

I made the trip up to the "end of the universe" just to see this.

On my drive home friday night the access to finch from the 400 was backed up for 5 km, then at Black Creek the road was flooded and only one lane, one car at a time was getting through the 2 ft deep puddle. Took mer almost 1:15 to get home vs normal 35 minutes.

My suggestion for viewing the collapse is to try to access it through the bike path that runs along the creek, you might be able to get closer. I may try again tomorrow to get it from another angle.

[Hceux]

donk, what would be the biking path? Is it the light brown burrow that runs from Fountainhead Road in a side-way L and then curved down to the Black Creek?

[donk]

donk, what would be the biking path? Is it the light brown burrow that runs from Fountainhead Road in a side-way L and then curved down to the Black Creek?

Could be, but best to check the city's website. The bike path maps I have show that there is one that runs along black creek from Shoreham south to finch and there is one that runs from Sheppard and Seekey north.

Hope that helps, not sure if they'll be open though.

[Michele Zone]

A friend of mine who lives something like an hour from Toronto sent me this: Severe storms rattle Southern Ontario

[Hceux]

donk, I just came back from a bus ride along Steeles Avenue. Apparently a section of Steeles Avenue has been washed out just like what you've posted about the washout at Finch.

The washout at Steeles Ave is between New Westminister Drive and Dufferin Avenue just in case you're interested in going for some photos and do a report for us, Cyburbians.

[donk]

Just heard on the radio, the estimated cost of fixing this mess is going to be about 5 million. Thye tax payers of the City of Toronto can partially thank the developers in another city who argue and fight storm water managment ponds and preserving open spaces and woods.

[SkeLeton]

Something like that happened once here (10 years ago) in Chile... except it was an international highway, near Puerto Varas... 4 inch rainfall in less than 24 hours lots of soil, trees and branches clogging the drainhole and a good 1000 feet of road just disappeared in the middle of the night... a few people died because of it..

[donk]

These pictures are making the rounds of my office, if they are yours, I apologize and will gladly give you credit, they are awesome. I think a friend of a colleague's husband lives in one of the nearby high rises.

Hope I have these in the right order.











I have a few more pictures I took tonight to show the rebuilding effort and how high teh water really was. Hope to post them soon.

[donk]

The repairs start












This image shows how high the water was, if you look closely, you should be able to see the difference in colour associated with the flooding.







I wish this series had turned out better, had a few of the creek today, it is barely 6 inches deep. Maybe when I get a new lens and have more time I'll snap some pics of the creek that caused this, you'll ne amazed.

[sprayglue_cowboy]

I actually live in the high rise right next to this thing, I can see alot of the construction from my balconey.



I know a way to get down in around some of barriers with a pretty good view, so if I can find batteries for my camera I'll get some shots.

[ab0rt]

whats really funny is if you look in google maps (satellite) or google earth NOW in 2007 they have imagery from when finch was washed out and their in the midst of fixing it clearly judging by the little bridge thats been put up on the north side of finch in lieu of the cement path in the park area on the north side of finch
see below

[iari416]

Donk - I would like to use some of the photos you took in a report being prepared by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario on climate change adaptation. Is that okay?