With the snow now behind us, the true condition of Bank Street (South of Victoria St.) is impossible to ignore. Quite frankly, it’s deplorable – and I share residents’ frustration. This is a major corridor in our community, and it should never have been allowed to deteriorate to this point before meaningful renewal work was planned. I’ve been pushing staff hard to accelerate repairs and bring more resources to this stretch of road.
Here’s what’s happening right now:
- Pothole crews were on Bank Street last week and this week working on repairs.
- Additional pothole crews and up to three “Python” road repair machines are being deployed.
There are some important constraints to be aware of:
- Asphalt plants are not yet open for the season (they typically open in May), so crews are currently using cold patch and warm mix asphalt.
- These materials allow crews to act immediately, but additional deployments may be needed once full asphalt production begins.
- Heavy rain this week will temporarily pause work, but crews will resume as soon as conditions allow.
I know how frustrating this is especially on a road as important as Bank Street. To many this is more than just a road, it’s the southern gateway to our City and deserves priority treatment. I am relentlessly pressing for immediate improvements while pushing to ensure the long-term reconstruction happens as quickly as possible – currently renewal for Bank Street South includes five culvert replacements and is set to begin in 2027.
I’ll keep you updated as this work progresses.