Sidewalk repairs are a key part of the Town of Innisfil’s maintenance, to maintain connectivity and pedestrian safety.
But sidewalk repairs on Anna Maria Avenue, an important walking route for students attending St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School and Nantyr Shores Secondary School in Alcona, raised concerns with local residents.
Not only did concrete trucks reportedly damage the grass and tree branches while backing up to deliver their loads, crews left behind piles of the wood used to form the sidewalk, chunks of leftover concrete, and empty water bottles discarded by the workers.
There were deep gaps, between the new sidewalk and the surrounding ground, that could pose a tripping hazard.
Residents, some of whom had their own walkways displaced by the work, were not notified before the work began during the week of Aug. 23.
The inquiries led to a follow up by the town, and on Wednesday, a town spokesperson stated, “Our Operations team has advised that this has been resolved and the debris has been removed. The contractor expects restorations to be completed by the end of this week, weather permitting.”
A quick check of the area found crews actively filling in the gaps beside the new sidewalk with dirt, and sweeping the sidewalk – but by 5 p.m., piles of wood, chunks of concrete and water bottles were still sitting beside the road, waiting for removal.
The first day of school for students in both the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board and Simcoe County District School Board is Sept. 7.
