Tamara Khandaker
Staff Writer
To add to a list of mishaps which have occurred since the start of the TTC subway construction, a water main burst September 29 and temporarily cut off water supply to the Schulich building.
According to Richard Francki, assistant vp of campus services and business operations (CSBO), TTC contractors installed a temporary water main to supply machinery required for construction.
Around 4 p.m., contractors accidentally drilled into their own water main. CSBO called in staff members to respond to the incident, and the issue was resolved by 7:10 p.m.
“This is not a York University project,” says Wallace Pidgeon of York Media. “It is incumbent upon the Toronto York-Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE) who are licensed to [build the subway] to be vigilant, diligent, and to ensure things like this don’t happen.”
Nonetheless, he also understands the circumstances.
“It is unfortunate that [the blackout and the water main incident] happened so close together,” he says. “But accidents do happen.”
The water main burst closely follows a fire in the Accolade East Building September 21, which was caused by a TTC contractor accidentally cutting a cable.
