Hugh Grant of the Bennington Heights Residents’ Association has written to Councillor Robinson (Ward 15) about the depression in the eastbound lane of Moore Ave at Mud Creek, and about the general instability that has marked this location for many years. His letter notes a brief history:
In 2009, a two-year rebuilding program for Moore Avenue was initiated. The plan was to install a new water main in year one, and the road structure and streetscape was slated for complete renewal in year two.
The City Of Toronto engineer assigned to drive the process, Tom Millis was concerned that roadway sinkage/collapse at Mud Creek had been an issue for many years, and upon investigation the plan for renewal of Moore Avenue was delayed pending engineering diagnostics at this location followed by rebuilding of the foundation.
It is understood that Mud Creek as the name implies was a ravine with running water (at right angles to the road today). City archives show that the ravine used to be host to the Belt Line rail track. Early last century there was no east-west road connecting Leaside to Moore Park. Eventually, a wooden bridge was built, facilitating a road link.
Many years later the bridge was replaced by infilling the ravine and building a black top road along what is now Moore Avenue
We have lived here since 1995, and from 1995 to 2009 had witnessed several attempts by City engineers to overcome the continuous sinking of the road by putting fresh fill down each time to build the surface up
Tom Millis’ investigation found that the road today has a culvert running underneath, carrying the original ground water. The linkages of the components of the culvert were not in good shape and water was “finding its way” back into the creek. Progressively this had eroded the “foundations” of the road causing the perennial sinking.
In 2009 Tom had Toronto Water work on this with the aim of completely rectifying this structural problem before the two-year Moore Avenue rebuild commenced (completed September 2010)
I have spoken to Tom Millis who now works for the Regional Municipality of York. Tom recalls the original project and the problems encountered. If it is useful to speak with Tom his number is 1 877 464 9675 ext 75598
Tom suggested we speak with Kimmo Hamalainen Manager of Local Roads at the Engineering department of Toronto. We spoke on the phone today. Kimmo checked and discovered by using Google Earth that there does appear to have been a recurrence of sinking of the eastbound lane at Mud Creek since 2014
