Metrolinx removes graffiti on rail bridge on Weber Street in Kitchener

A Kitchener man is calling a recent project a sight for sore eyes after years of lobbying. CTV’s Heather Senoran reports.

A rail bridge in Kitchener is looking a little cleaner thanks to a fresh coat of paint.

Metrolinx crews were spotted painting over graffiti at the covered bridge on Weber Street near Victoria Street Friday morning.

A community advocate who lives nearby said it is in part thanks to his persistence.

Lane Burman said he’s been lobbying the city, Waterloo Region and Metrolinx to remove the graffiti on the bridge for a long time.

“It’s just the slow gears of bureaucracy grind slowly and now two years, almost two years later, we’ve finally got the graffiti removed,” Burman said. “It’s a very pleasant sight to see.”

Burman said the graffiti first showed up about eight years ago. The bridge was installed in 2013 during the widening of Weber Street.

“[It’s] our entrance into our downtown and our exit from our downtown. And there’s graffiti all over the place. We don’t want it in our neighborhood,” Burman said.

Metrolinx sent out a notice saying the work would take over the course of two days and part of Weber Street would be closed. But crews wrapped up in only a few hours.

A spokesperson confirmed the work is complete and added Metrolinx is only responsible for the rail bridge and not the concrete walls around or below it.

There is still visible graffiti in those areas.

“I was under the impression that they were going to fix all the graffiti. I think after being on site today, I think maybe there’s more emails to go out. Just understand who’s going to remove the rest of the graffiti,” said Burman.

CTV News reached out to the Region of Waterloo to ask who is responsible for cleaning up graffiti on the concrete walls. The region said it was looking into it.

Burman said he is still very happy with how helpful and responsive the region and Metrolinx has been. He encourages others to keep trying if they are in a similar situation and looking to get something fixed or changed in the city.

“You can’t just complain. You have to do something about it. You have to be patient about tracking it down,” he said.

Some don’t mind the tagging.

“As long as it is not obscene or derogatory to someone, it’s fine,” a nearby resident said.

Burman said he doesn’t mind graffiti in areas where it is allowed. He is also suggesting a different form of art could be included on the rail bridge in the future.

“We could add an art installation here. I think it can be beautified,” he said.

Burman said he would be interested into speaking to other Kitchener residents who might have ideas for the rail bridge and surrounding areas.