Residents living along a Kitchener street have raised concerns about a growing sinkhole, which remains unrepaired despite being reported to the city weeks ago. They worry someone could get hurt. Neighbours said it started as a small dip on Blucher Boulevard and gradually collapsed, creating a sinkhole. It has now been covered with a sheet of plywood. “There was a foot drop inside the hole, and all the asphalt went down inside,” said Yvonne Poire, who has lived on Blucher Boulevard. She first noticed the problem a few weeks ago and contacted the City of Kitchener. “I called the city and said, ‘Hey, somebody might want to look at this before it gets any worse.’” Poire watched as the road continued to deteriorate. “I was afraid somebody’s going in that hole,” she told CTV News. Poire said she tried to warn drivers herself before turning to social media in an effort to get the city’s attention. “Maybe if more people would complain about it and the neighbours all called in as well,” she explained. “Within two hours, somebody was out here after I posted it.” City crews covered the hole, but residents said they’re still waiting for permanent repairs on Blucher Boulevard. Neighbour Sherry Melrose worries that both drivers and children could be at risk. “The cars, this street, they think it’s a freeway because they drive out pretty fast sometimes and then they have to slow down over that if they do,” she said. “And there’s lots of little kids in the neighbourhood that are curious about what’s in a hole.” Poire acknowledged that municipalities have competing infrastructure issues but believes road hazards should be addressed more quickly. “I’m sure they have a lot of holes and a lot of stuff to fix, but I think they need to kind of maybe prioritize which ones are more dangerous than other ones,” she said. Councillor Stephanie Stretch told CTV News the problem started with a damaged pipe under the asphalt. She said it would have to be repaired before crews can fill the hole. That work is set to happen next week. AI tool aims to simplify reporting There’s a new tool designed to make it easier for residents to report infrastructure issues. The Toronto-based startup Solve Canada has developed a free artificial intelligence-powered platform that allows users to upload photos of problem areas, such as potholes, damaged sidewalks or other concerns. The app then analyzes the image, drafts a report and sends it to the appropriate municipal department, while allowing users to track its progress. “You point at a problem — whatever you have around you, in whatever location you are in your city,” said founder Ahmed Nadar. “As soon as you create a report in Kitchener or in any city right now, you see the report right away. You don’t have to worry about it. You don’t have to remember your service request number.” While the platform is not operated by or affiliated with the City of Kitchener, it can be used in Kitchener, Waterloo and other Ontario municipalities. “My goal is to make sure every Canadian gets heard in 30 seconds or less, so it’s completely free,” said Nadar.
