Update — October 2: Buses resume regular service at 6 a.m. on Monday, October 5.
Update — July 26, 9:05 a.m.: this post now includes correct information about the detour for buses operating along the 104 Faywood route.
After the heavy rainstorms of the past few days, a section of Finch Avenue West near the West Don River collapsed yesterday, Friday, July 24.
The TTC is detouring bus service until the City of Toronto can repair the roadway.
104 Faywood
Southbound buses start their trips on Wilmington Avenue at its northern intersection with Cedar Springs Grove, then proceed:
east-, south- and westward along Cedar Springs,
resuming their regular route southward along Wilmington.Northbound buses operate along their regular route to Wilmington Avenue and Overbrook Place, then detour:
northward along Wilmington to its northern intersection with Cedar Springs Grove,
ending their trips.
36 Finch West
309 Finch West overnight
Eastbound buses operate along their regular route to Finch Avenue West and Dufferin Street, then detour:
southward along Dufferin;
eastward along Overbrook Place; and then
northward along Wilmington Avenue to Finch West,
resuming their regular route eastward along Finch.Westbound buses reverse this routing.
Sinkholes result from water — usually rainwater — suddenly removing topsoil from the bedrock, especially beneath a concrete or asphalt surface.
Heavy rain has resulted in several sinkholes or has washed out bridges disrupting traffic and transit services in the same general area as this sinkhole several times over the last few years:
- rain washed out the bridge carrying Finch Avenue West across Black Creek on August 21, 2005. The TTC made major revisions to its services and the City set out to rebuild the road, re-opening the bridge on January 21, 2006. (Read Transit Toronto’s history of the 36 Finch West and route by Jeffrey Kay for details of the detours.)
- a major sinkhole appeared on Sheppard Avenue West at the West Don River, on April 26, 2006. (The TTC also diverted its buses further on May 7 when local residents of Ellerslie Avenue didn’t care for the original detour route.) The City repaired and re-opened the road on May 20.
- yet another sinkhole appeared at the intersection of Highway 7 and Jane Street on February 8, 2006. The road did not open and YRT buses did not resume regular service again until May.