Enbridge Gas is busy digging a 4.5 kilometre gas pipeline from Cherry Street in the east to Bathurst Street in the west. The company invited the public to view their plans more than two years ago. They had three potential routes, digging open trenches either along Harbour Street, Lake Shore Boulevard or their favourite choice: Queens Quay!
YQNA urged members to write their objections to tearing up the entire length of Queens Quay, and nearly 200 did. A few YQNA members also asked to meet with Enbridge executives. They welcomed our views, and we learned that they had expected the Queens Quay bike lane would be an easy route to dig up for the pipeline. That would have caused damage to the trees and granite-paved sidewalks on this prize-winning pedestrian boulevard that Waterfront Toronto had completed a few years earlier at the cost of $130 million. Businesses and tourist activities would also have suffered.
Enbridge Gas listened and made the reasonable decision to dig the trench in Lake Shore Boulevard instead. That is now underway. This photo shows the current pipeline construction site under the Gardiner Expressway near Simcoe Street. It is not hard to imagine the damage such a large worksite would have done to Queens Quay. A similar Ontario Hydro dig on Queens Quay for new power cables was also averted, thanks to local opposition. We are fortunate to have such engaged citizens and a system that allows us to work with City agencies.
