Metcalfe Street remains closed after sewer pipe break

ELORA – Halloween may be long over but the nightmare continues in Elora.

A section of sanitary sewer pipe on Metcalfe Street collapsed on Nov. 15 and the street has been torn up and closed ever since.

Compounded by the closure of East Mill Street due to planned infrastructure work, it’s a challenge to get to the downtown shops and restaurants right now.

The original collapse was between Church and Mill streets and “investigation revealed a 30-metre section of sanitary sewer pipe was deemed to be in very poor condition,” communications coordinator Kendra Martin stated in an email.

That section of pipe was replaced on an emergency basis by Nov. 21.

But on Nov. 22 and 23, the township assessed the sewers in the vicinity and found more problems.

“The township identified a section of sanitary sewer six metres in length on Metcalfe Street between Church and James streets and a 70-metre section of sanitary sewer between Church and Mill  streets that needed to be replaced immediately due to their advanced state of deterioration,” Martin stated.

She added the six-metre section was repaired on Nov. 24 and work continues on the 70-metre section of pipe.

This section of pipe replacement and road restoration work should be completed by Dec. 8, she added.

The break and subsequent work came at an inopportune time, disrupting Starlight Shopping events in the village.