Dear Editor,
Never in my 10 years plus of living in Richmond have I been more horrified by the life-threatening conditions of a neighborhood that is not only cutting short our lives, but is threatening the day-to-day movements of guys like myself (senior-age, non-driving).
I am referring to the disembowelment on Buswell Street, stretching from Park Road, across Cook Road, reaching Saba Road, that links two marketing locations (Public Market and shops on Park Road).
The disaster of the road disembowelment is the result of the follow factors:
• Road repairs;
• Underground pipe installation;
• Demolition of the Brighouse mall, which is still going on;
• And the delayed clean-up in front of a newly erected high-rise at the corner of Buswell Street and Cook Road.
We understand that all these projects are necessary, but when they take place simultaneously, they are lethal — especially to folks who are aging and have to depend on their two infirm legs to walk around the neighborhood.
To top the depressing sight described above, a most recent work project (Thursday, 5 July) underscores who the arch-culprit really is — the road repair department at the City of Richmond.
If all the work projects taking place on the same road originate from a single department, why can’t the officers-in-charge be more considerate to guys who need the pavements to move from place to place inside the neighbourhood? The new project I refer to takes place on Buswell Street between Park Road and Cook Road, rendering both sides of the road (the pavements) unwalkable. The only way to walk that stretch is to compete for space with cars on the road. And some of these “walkers” have to grip a cane in one hand, and a bag of shopping in the other. Good grief!
Further, if some of us would like to walk from the Cook Road — Buswell Street junction outward to No. 3 Road, where the Dining Terrace in the Richmond Centre mall is located, the scene is not at all encouraging. (Bear in mind that since we can’t do much shopping, we may opt for the food court at the mall) but both sides of Cook Road are also unwalkable. And even if we risk our lives walking on the road side-by-side with moving cars, we have to breathe in air filled with dust and debris from the demolishing work of the Brighouse mall.
I believe the concerned departments of the City of Richmond owe us an explanation.
James Ling Hung
RICHMOND
