A large sinkhole has closed an east-end intersection in Toronto and flooded at least four basements following a water main break late Wednesday night, the city says.
City crews worked overnight and are still trying to prevent further flooding and assist impacted residents in the Coxwell Avenue and Cosburn Avenue area, the city said in an email to CBC Toronto.
The city is advising drivers to check its website to plan alternative routes in the area. The TTC said in social media posts that the 87 Cosburn and 70 O’Connor buses are taking detours due to the sinkhole repairs.
The intersection is expected to reopen on Monday barring unforeseen circumstances, the city said. Until then, it will be closed to cars and transit, but will remain open for pedestrians.
City response ‘wholly inadequate,’ impacted resident says
Resident Tue Vu, whose basement was flooded by the water main break, says it took the city several hours to shut water off.
“Another neighbour said she had called the city at 10 p.m. to report the problem because she was out walking her dog,” Vu said. “Somebody came, took pictures and left … it took them until like 4 a.m. in the morning to shut the water off.”
He said the city response was “wholly inadequate” and that the city should be more responsive.
Vu said his basement has several centimetres of sewage backup.
Resident Matthew David says he saw a “river of water” going west on Cosburn and south on Coxwell last night after a neighbour contacted the city. On Thursday morning, his wife discovered two centimetres of mud in the furnace room.
“The carpet in the basement was just like a sponge soap … but it only came half way,” David said. “Toronto Water must have … shut off the water, but it looks like it didn’t happen for four or five hours.”
David says it should’ve been handled as an emergency response.
Both residents say they contacted the city to open up a ticket, and someone was sent to take photos of their respective basements.
The city said the water was shut off when the water main break worsened.
“Emergency crews initially responded to a smaller break with some water running into the nearby catch basin, but it became more severe throughout the night, prompting crews to shut off the water to prevent further damage,” city spokesperson Krystal Carter said in an email to CBC Toronto.
Carter added that a proactive capital program has been set up to “rehabilitate and replace Toronto’s aging water mains.”
