Closing Roads for Watermain Work Requires Proper Notice - by Councillor Alejandra Bravo, seconded by Councillor Paula Fletcher

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The decision

2026-03-25 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on March 25 and 26, 2026, adopted the following: 1.City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services to work with the Chief Congestion Officer and the Executive Director, Strategic Capital Coordination Office, the General Manager, Toronto Water, the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services to develop and

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implement a clear accountability framework to ensure that going forward all Standard Conditions of any permits issued are fully complied with by any contracted parties; and that for any major road or intersection closures, this framework should establish a single point of contact for coordinating communications with the local Councillors' offices and the public regarding these works; and to report back through the Annual Strategic Capital Coordination Report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee at the appropriate meeting, outlining the details of the accountability framework and its implementation.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

On February 24, 2026, a contractor operating under a Cut Permit that was submitted by Toronto Water (Permit Number 1032408001) closed a section of Dupont Street, a major arterial road in Ward 9 - Davenport, from all vehicle traffic for water and sewer connection work. This closure continued until the afternoon of Friday, February 27, with no cars, trucks, or Toronto Transit Commission buses able to traverse Dupont Street from Edwin Avenue to Franklin Avenue.

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Toronto Water and Transportation Services provided no notice to the Ward 9 Councillor's office of this significant road closure. The Divisions also did not properly notify the Toronto Transit Commission, which had to implement alternate routing for the 26 Dupont bus that operates on this road. Local businesses on this section of Dupont reached out to the Councillor's office to confirm that they, along with nearby residents, received no notice of this work. A four-day road closure in the middle of the week with no advance notice had a significant impact, particularly on local businesses who lost revenue as a result, and would have closed operations for the affected days if they had received proper notice. Under the Standard Conditions outlined in the Cut Permit, section A, the "Applicant/Contractor must notify affected residents and businesses/Business Improvement Area (BIA) about the construction work minimum of 48 hrs prior to construction." Additionally, under section E, "a sign identifying the name of the company owning the work, the contractor undertaking the work and 24-hour contact phone number(s) shall be prominently displayed at the work site for any work which has a duration of 48 hours or longer." Toronto Water has confirmed that neither of the above conditions were met. There continues to be ambiguity about who is responsible for overseeing that permit conditions are satisfied, including required notice periods, and whether this responsibility falls directly to the permit applicant (Toronto Water) or to the Transportation Services Division, through the Work Zone Coordinator roles.

Staff recommended

Councillor Alejandra Bravo, seconded by Councillor Paula Fletcher recommends that: 1.City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services to work with the Chief Congestion Officer and the Executive Director, Strategic Capital Coordination Office, the General Manager, Toronto Water, the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services

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to develop and implement a clear accountability framework to ensure that going forward all Standard Conditions of any permits issued are fully complied with by any contracted parties; and that for any major road or intersection closures, this framework should establish a single point of contact for coordinating communications with the local Councillors' offices and the public regarding these works; and to report back through the Annual Strategic Capital Coordination Report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee at the appropriate meeting, outlining the details of the accountability framework and its implementation.

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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