Question Asked About Shifitng Sidewalks In Sunningdale

What can be done to help stop sidewalks in the Sunningdale area of the city was asked by a councillor at Monday afternoon’s regular Council meeting.

Councillor Jamie Logan asked an enquiry about the sidewalks in Sunningdale and how they were prematurely cracking with some just five years until they have cracks in them.

“I am just wondering if there is any benefit to adding re-bar (to sidewalks) in those heavy clay areas?” Councillor Logan added.

CRACKED UP - A long crack (where the green vegetation is growing) runs down the center of the sidewalk in front of homes on Calypso Drive - MJ Independent photo

Heavy clay soils, also known as gumbos, shrink, contract and contort when there is moisture added to them. This movement causes the cement sidewalks to crack.

“You would still get the cracking but the sidewalk wouldn’t come apart and become a dangerous occurrence,” said.

City engineer Bevan Harlton said in 2021 a change in 2021 was by extending the base (sand) from three or four inches to six inches.

“We are now doing more testing to the subgrade. That is the dirt below the sand. These two things help having more sand and the subgrade compacted,” Harlton said.

The City does not do a spec for putting rebar into the cement unless it is a commercial crossing, he said.

“Yes rebar helps but it comes at cost.”

Councillor Logan asked if there was the potential to do a test area on Calypso Drive.

Councillor Jamie Logan listens to the response from city engineer Bevan Harlton - MJ Independent photo

“It’s awful. I went up hand had a look around. There was some concrete replaced in 2017 it looks just like the concrete replaced in 2005,” he said.

Harlton said many times when there are problems with a sidewalk it is what is below them or the

“You will see them around catch basins so I will have a look at Calypso as well and see what some of the underlying issues may be.”