Dundurn Stairs closure update

This post, from February 10, contains an update on the temporary closure of the Dundurn Stairs in June of 2023.

Hello Ward 8 Neighbours,

An incident involving a vehicle accident along the escarpment access of Garth Street and Beckett Drive, adjacent to the Dundurn Stairs, created concern as the stairs were damaged during the event. Although the stairs were re-opened soon afterwards, emergency measures were taken to ensure its engineering and structure were not compromised. This post contains an update on the processes which took place.

For more details, please continue reading below…

On June 9, 2023, a vehicle accident occurred adjacent to the Dundurn Stairs, at the top of the Beckett Street access leading to Garth Street in Ward 8. As the accident caused damage to the stairs, City staff immediately closed public access to the stairs to ensure pubic safety.

As a result of the accident, and with concern heightened that the accident’s impact caused damage to the Dundurn Stairs, Parks staff put in an emergency procurement request for an emergency engineering and structural review of the stairs at a cost of $9,640.

The emergency was declared to expedite and complete an engineering and structural review of the Dundurn Stairs, as defined with the Procurement Policy By-Law No. 22-255, Policy 10 – Emergency Procurements. Staff worked alongside an engineering consultant to complete the review and provide comment on any immediate repairs required prior to re-opening the stairs. The stairs were not structurally compromised and recommended repairs (all minor in nature) were completed, and the stairs were re-opened.

In addition to the work on the stairs, the engineer found that the parapet wall on Beckett Drive was severely damaged during the incident. Engineering Services is completing design work, with a tender planned for spring of 2024 to replace the wall.

Questions or concerns?

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact our office here.

Councillor John-Paul Danko