'Insufferable' construction noise keeping Toronto residents up all night
![toronto construction site A construction site in full swing in Toronto on Wednesday March 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2020/3/24/toronto-construction-site-1-4865570-1627394673624.jpg)
Zeynep Şen moved to the Yonge and Esplanada area of Toronto from Turkey seven months ago.
“We chose the [area] because it is really close to the Lakeshore — safe and in the city centre,” Şen told CTV News Toronto.
However, at the time, Şen didn’t realize that the apartment she rented was very close to what she calls “a never-ending construction site.”
“During winter, the construction noise was tolerable due to fans, although I still needed ear plugs some nights,” Şen said.
“But when it got warmer, the actual noise level became evident. We cannot open windows neither during the day nor at night. Usually it starts around 10 p.m. and continues till 1 or 2 a.m.,” she continued.
“Sundays have been the only days for two months that I don't wear ear plugs for an uninterrupted night sleep or for not waking up at 7 a.m. with drill noise,” Şen said.
“It is downtown, but still a residential area. Thousands of people live here.”
As a non-native speaker, Şen says she prefers written communication, so she wrote to 311 Toronto on Twitter, sending video evidence of the noise, but received no response.
When reached for comment, the City of Toronto told CTV News Toronto that they have “received a small number of complaints for the Yonge and Esplanade area related to construction undertaken by Metrolinx.”
“This type of work is considered ‘Government Work,’ which is exempt from noise regulations in order to allow the government to accelerate important infrastructure projects,” Lyne Kyle of the City of Toronto strategic communications said.
Just blocks away from Yonge and Esplanade, Kate, who didn’t want to provide her surname, said she’s has also been kept up by constant noise in the area of Front and Sherbourne streets.
“I'm currently out of work because my business has been closed for 6 months, so I am home 24/7,” Kate told CTV News Toronto.
“I have construction noise outside my bedroom from 6 a.m. to sometimes as late as midnight. It's incredibly annoying,” she continued.
Kate says she hasn’t been able to open her windows or enjoy her balcony due to noise levels.
“I'm sympathetic of my shift-working neighbors and those who have young children, I imagine it's been very difficult,” she said.
Outside of any government construction work, the City of Toronto’s noise bylaws remain in effect.
“These bylaws mandate that noise made in connection with any construction activity is only permitted between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., seven days a week,” Kyle told CTV News Toronto.
However, Ontario has implemented various Emergency Orders that supersede Toronto’s noise bylaws, set to be in effect until Oct. 7.
“Under Ontario Regulation 82/20, noise made in connection with construction projects and services associated with the healthcare sector, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space, is permitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Kyle said.
These provincial regulations, in effect until Oct. 7, saw opposition NDP MPPs write an open letter and circulate a petition in the hopes of amending and removing the provision.
For residents like Şen and Kate, there’s no way to know whether the construction keeping them up at night has been permitted by the province to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Şen says that if only the construction would stop overnight, she would be able to handle the noise throughout the day.
“I'm fine with the noise during daytime but it’s insufferable at night.”
The City of Toronto reminds residents that anyone that has a concern regarding construction noise can contact 311 and the city will investigate.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING Celine Dion stages comeback with performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career during the opening ceremony at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Paris Olympics kicks off with ambitious but rainy opening ceremony on the Seine River
Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before Jasper can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes "for several weeks."
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.
'He was just gone': Police ramp up search for vulnerable 3-year-old boy in Mississauga, Ont.
Police in Mississauga are conducting a full-scale search of the city’s biggest park for a non-verbal toddler who went missing Thursday evening. Sgt. Jennifer Trimble told reporters Friday morning that there has been no trace of three-year-old Zaid Abdullah since 6:20 p.m., when he was last seen with his parents in Erindale Park, near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn $146,000 for water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six figure water bill.