Phase 2 of Lawrence Avenue East reconstruction underway

A portion of Lawrence Avenue East is being rebuilt after years of complaints about bumpy road conditions.

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Lawrence from Kingston Road to Beechgrove Drive will be dug up, given a new base and repaved. This stretch of road has been in disrepair for many years, says Ward 44 councillor Ron Moeser.

“It’s almost like going through a speed bump,” he said. “I had so many complaints about it.”

The first phase of construction, from Beechgrove Drive to Bennett Road, started in August 2009 and was finished in November 2009.

The second phase, from Bennett to Kingston began this August and is expected to be complete in November.

Once finished, no roadwork can be done along that stretch of Lawrence for five years. This is due to a city policy that places a moratorium on construction on newly paved streets.

“We invest a lot of money into these roads,” Moeser said. “The last thing you need is for people to cut into them again.”

When a new property is built, developers have to dig into the road to install underground services.

Moeser said several subdivisions have been built along Lawrence, creating a patchwork of uneven asphalt.

A new Seventh Day Adventist Church is currently being built across from the 43 Division police station, which is within the road reconstruction area.

Moeser said the roadwork and subsequent moratorium prompted the church to start building.

“I said, ‘If you don’t get your hookup for the services and water, you’re not going to be able to do it for five years,’ ” he said.

Because Lawrence Avenue East is a busy road, the street will be open during the reconstruction, Moeser said. But this means the roadwork has to be done in portions.

“It’s tough on residents,” he said. “You have to (repair) one side, then go back to the other side. But people have been very patient.”

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By: Amanda Kwan
Posted: Sep 24 2010 12:48 pm
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