Tuesday 1 November 2011

Second Phase of Watermain Work Announced

A letter was delivered to residents on Kos Blvd. last week indicating that the Region of Peel contractors would be starting work on Kos "on or around October 31".  The pylons have been placed along the street and the street (and boulevards) have been marked with coloured paint (indicating the various utilities), so we can expect the digging to begin any day now.
       As noted in the letter, traffic along Kos may be reduced to a single lane during construction and rerouted if necessary. As well, space along the street will be needed for the various types of equipment used by the contractors during the project. They have stated that they may need to block some drivieways for a short time as they proceed around the neighbourhood. Therefore, when the contractors are working on your section of the street, it may be wise to park your car(s) somewhere else to ensure that you will be able to get in and out of the neighbourhood. This pertains to both driveways and the street. We all depend on our cars to go everywhere, so you don't want to be caught unaware or unprepared.
       Contact names and numbers were provided on the Resident Notice dated October 20.

Saturday 22 October 2011

Watermain Work Started

Residents living on Andros Blvd., Zante Crescent, Zante Court and Johnston's Lane received notification recently that refurbishing of their watermains would begin the week of October 17. Since the work on the watermains is deemed cathodic, the streets will not be subjected to digging. This work will continue over the next few weeks as Peel Region staff make their way across the southern portion of the neighbourhood. If you have any questions, please contact the Region of Peel or go to their website.
       There is no word as yet when the replacement work will begin on Kos Blvd., Ithaca Court and Lefkas Court; we have been assured we will receive notification in our mailboxes prior to commencement date. There were issues that needed to be resolved with the Credit Valley Conservation Authority first since the work requires digging below the creek bed of Birchwood Creek on both arms of Kos.
       Stay tuned for further information and details as they arrive.    

Sunday 7 August 2011

Hold Off on All Driveway Repairs

Are you planning on redoing your driveway over the next few months? If so, please postpone those repairs until 2012. This has been suggested by City staff at the Transportation and Works Department -- and it applies to everyone in the Birch Glen neighbourhood area.


The reason for this suggestion is threefold and it involves our streets being dug up sometime over the next few months.


1. The Region of Peel is planning to replace all of the watermains in the neighbourhood starting (we understand) sometime this year. We are expecting to learn soon when that work will begin -- but we know that it will continue for some months after it begins since they will likely work in sections moving around the neighbourhood until it is completed.


2. Bell Canada is expected to be coming into the neighbourhood to replace existing cables with the new fibre optic cable technology. This will likely also involve digging up the streets to install the new cables. We are hoping that this will be done at the same time as the Region is in doing the watermains, and have suggested to the City that someone work on coordinating the efforts of both the Region of Peel and Bell Canada.


3. After the Region and Bell have completed their installations, the Transportation & Works Department of the City of Mississauga will be coming in to repave all of the streets in Birch Glen. This will involve removing the existing paving and curbs and laying down new asphalt on the streets and putting in new curbs. It will also involve the repaving of the boulevard portions of every driveway in the neighbourhood. At the same time, they will be replacing some of the sidewalks in the neighbourhood, which will also involve approximately 1 foot of the driveway on the property side of the sidewalk. We will be informed of the timing and extent of the work a few weeks before the City comes in to start the work on the street.


We have reported some of this to you in the newsletter earlier this year. However, we still do not have information on when this will begin or when it will end. If you have already contacted a contractor to do your driveway, may we suggest that you ask him to hold off on the work until the City has completed all of its repaving.


Once the work has begun, individual homeowners -- including those who have already redone their driveways -- will be able to talk to the City's paving contractor to discuss what can be done in their specific driveways. However, the City will not be able to replace any brick or concrete on the driveways. The boulevard portions will only be done in asphalt.


If you have any questions, please get in touch with us immediately either through this blog, by email or phone.

Friday 29 July 2011

Bore Hole Drilling by Region Staff

You may have noticed some activity on the streets yesterday and today -- trucks and workers on Ithaca and Lefkas Court yesterday and on Kos Blvd. today. They are from the Region of Peel.  They are drilling bore holes, a precursor to the major work of replacing the watermains throughout the neighbourhood.

We may know next week when that work will begin, but we have no way of knowing when it will end. The work is absolutely necessary -- see the previous post about sinkholes -- and we are grateful that it is being done. It may be messy and cause some disruptions to traffic during construction, but that is to be expected. Please be patient and co-operative.

After the watermain work is completed, the City's Transportation and Works department will be coming in to repave all of the streets. Again, we do not have a timeline for this, but it will likely not happen until 2012, depending on how long the watermain work takes.

We will be keeping you up to date through this blog as things happen. Please feel free to comment or question here as well.

Friday 27 May 2011

Potholes, Sinkholes Everywhere...

We have had so much rain over the past month that it appears the soil under our streets is being washed away -- to where we do not know. We are left with numerous potholes and what look like the beginnings of sinkholes throughout the neighbourhood.

You may have noticed the coloured markings around some of the holes. on some street corners, curbs and even sidewalks. That usually signals that work of some sort is about to take place. We do know that the Region of Peel is planning to begin work on the watermains throughout the neighbourhood -- continuing what they were doing on Silver Birch and on Nesdale last year. We also assume they are waiting for a break in the weather to start this work.At this point in time, we do not have a start date -- or a completion date.

What we have been told is this: when Peel Region has completed the work on the watermains, the City of Mississauga will begin paving the streets. We will keep you updated here, on the website, and in our newsletter. Meanwhile, keep the cursing to a minimum, drive around the potholes, and watch out for others both walking and driving.

Saturday 16 April 2011

Saturday morning & it is raining!

It is 10:00 a.m. on Spring Cleanup day, but the weather is not cooperating. Rain, cold, wind. I don't think anyone is crazy or dedicated enough to go out in this weather to pick up litter. I know I am not. Going to hold off on going out to see if it clears up.

Friday 15 April 2011

20-Minute Makeover Today

Looks like a great day to get out and participate in the 20-Minute Makeover. Weather is sunny if a little cool and windy. I am going out for a bit today, maybe more than once. Anyone want to join me?
      I am a little concerned about tomorrow's weather, so I would like to get some litter-picking done today during the 20-MM. See you out there!
     

Weather alerts for Saturday, April 16

The forecast is for RAIN --  100% possibility of precipitation during the hours of the cleanup), with about 20 - 30 mm accummulation. Also, winds E at 30 kmh. Sunday's forecast is also showers, 40% POP and >1 mm of rain on the ground, with winds W 40 kmh. So it looks like we are in for a soggy Saturday and Sunday.
       Prognosis:  If it is not raining Saturday, we proceed as planned. If raining = CANCELLED.

Thursday 14 April 2011

20-Minute Makeover on Friday, April 15

In addition to our Spring Cleanup on Saturday, take part in the 20-Minute Makeover tomorrow, Friday, April 15. Officially it takes place at 2:00 p.m., but anytime during the day will do.

Spring Cleanup in 2 days!

Don't forget -- Spring Cleanup on Saturday, April 16, 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon. Meet at Children's Playground in Birch Glen Park (by the bridge).

Friday 1 April 2011

Remember -- Spring Cleanup in two weeks!

Spring has arrived and it is time once again for the Annual Spring Cleanup in Birch Glen. This year's date is Saturday, April 16, starting at 10:00 a.m. and going at least until noon. This coincides with the 20-Minute Makeover (April 15 at 2:00 p.m.) and a general Community Cleanup Day in Mississauga, also on April 16. Earth Day follows on April 23. 
        We are holding the Cleanup earlier than in previous years, mainly to get a jump start on picking up the litter uncovered when the snow melts.
         This is a community effort and we would like to see the adults in the neighbourhood coming out to provide a good example for the younger generation. This is our neighbourhood and we do have a responsibility to keep it clean and litter-free.
         The "command centre" is at the children's playground in Birch Glen Park, where you can pick up garbage bags, gloves and utensils (provided by the Parks Department/Clarkson Yard), set out on your litter route, then bring the full bags back for pickup by the City.
         Make a point of coming out to help not only the Association Board, but the community as a whole.
         Remember -- Together we are a community; separately we are just people who live in the same neighbourhood. Be part of the community. Get involved.