The Inconvenience Of Construction: BENN

Published 09/02/2023 · Updated 09/01/2023

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Have you ever noticed that the convenience to the few trumps the inconvenience of the many?

This yarn is not about the selfish nature of our society. Instead, it’s about how little, if any, value the city puts on the communities on which it inflicts itself.

Let’s take the tardiness of the Stage 2 LRT construction.

Baseline station is located adjacent to Algonquin College’s construction trades building. There are two LRT terminal buildings. The structure closest to the college has been under construction for several years. For the last many months, the outside of the building has been almost completed. Some sidewalks and landscaping need to be put in place, but otherwise it looks like what little work that is taking place is inside the building.

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So why is the approximately 500-square-metre green space still behind the not-so-temporary fencing? Why not move the fencing closer to the building and allow the people who are waiting for their bus the opportunity to sit in a park-like setting. Same for the college students who want some fresh air between classes. The convenience of the construction team of not moving a large section of temporary fencing is trumping the inconvenience of the potential users of that green space. Likely for years, unless someone makes a decision to the contrary.

Next up, Iris station. Last year, as part of the construction of the LRT station at Iris, which by the way is less than a kilometre from Baseline station, an overpass was installed. That section of Iris Street was closed for about a month. Fair enough. However, for the last two or more months, traffic has been restricted to OC Transpo and other authorized vehicles. Why? There were a couple of days when two staircases were installed, to provide future LRT passengers to get to and from the north- and south-bound platforms. Safety for those who were working with bulky staircases. Safety for passers-by as the cranes swung them into place. Fair enough.

The continuing saga at Iris station is that there is a section on the eastern side of the overpass that needs some work. The temporary concrete barriers have remained in place for the aforementioned two-plus months, but precious little work was being done.

Until a week or two ago, the asphalt remained undisturbed. Of late there has been a flurry of activity and who knows, maybe the traffic obstruction might be cleared before the snow falls. Again, the convenience of the contractor not having to remove the concrete barriers trumped the inconvenience of the community. The inconvenience to the community is choosing to either risk the ticketing wrath of a special constable (there has been one in the vicinity all week) or driving three very long sides of a box to get where they want to go.

It is noteworthy that the Ontario Ministry of Transport appreciates the inconvenience of the masses. The over-the-weekend overpass replacement program that was pioneered in Ottawa on Highway 417 is an example. Better to inconvenience motorists for two or three days than for the conventional two-plus year construction project. The Ministry doesn’t always get it right. But at least they are trying.

It is time the city started valuing the impact of prolonged construction projects on its communities.

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Construction plans need to reflect the impact on the community of prolonged periods of inactivity. The inconvenience to the contractor of removing construction barriers when no one is working at the site is small compared to the convenience of the many. Or at least that is the way it should be.

Over to you city council. How about putting some of those words about caring about the community into tangible action?

Ron Benn, a finance executive, has been a member of the Centrepointe Community Association for the better part of three decades.