Western Gap seawall collapses opposite Island airport

Question is who’s responsible for fixing the crumbling seawall. Is it city taxpayers or will the Toronto Port Authority end up with the bill?

By Frank Touby –

Portion of seawall on Western Gap collapsed Dec. 6.

A 50-foot wide portion of the seawall at the Western Gap promenade opposite the Island airport has fallen into Lake Ontario, adjacent to the National Yacht Club, posing hazards to pedestrians and children playing along the waterfront.

Councilor Adam Vaughan on has notified city staff about the hazard, which currently is just marked off with yellow hazard warning tape.

The Toronto Port Authority is reported as saying the mainland-side seawall is the responsibility of the city. TPA took over from the former Toronto Harbour Commission. Neither agency repaired the much earlier collapsed Eastern Gap seawall or the fallen protective fence on the opposite-side Eastern Gap, which remains a hazard.

It’s an expensive proposition to make the repairs and if there’s a dispute over whose responsibility it is—the city’s or TPAs—the needed repair work might be a long way off.

Another view of the Western Gap seawall after its collapse.

This shot of the Eastern Gap shows the collapsed seawall, which has been down for years, and there is no sign of the former safety fence which hasn’t been replaced. Are these city or Toronto Port Authority responsibilities.