Beware of the Spring Thaw

Spring-time is officially here, but with it comes a unique problem.

The roadways and pathways in Pierre Elliot Trudeau park, as well as the roadway surrounding the Hydro-Quebec substation behind Mt. Sinai Hospital are surrounded by grass and fields which are extremely soft due to the recent melting snow, and when you are forced to leave the roadways for any reason, you risk getting irreversibly stuck in your tracks.

Recently, one well-meaning team in 907 drove around the Hydro-Quebec facility (as they often do) to inspect the emergency evacuation route gates, as well as the multiple gates leading in and out of the substation -only to come across temporary construction fencing completely blocking their path which was not there last week. It was hidden completely from view behind the substation until you drove up the clear, solid roadway. Since they could not know about the blockage until it was too late, they had two options:

• Drive backwards 1/4 km. on a narrow single lane roadway with two 90 degree turns;
• Or turn around and drive out forwards, as normal.

Little did they know the field was waterlogged, with one particular spot which was so soft that the front wheels of the vehicle literally sank down immediately without warning, leaving them stranded without any traction whatsoever. PS was summoned as was PW to tow out the van ASAP.

For the next month or so, we suggest you park close to the aforementioned areas and patrol only on foot.