Concrete falls off Toronto's Gardiner Expressway again

A chunk of concrete has fallen off the Gardiner Expressway west ofdowntown Toronto just after this morning's rush hour.

The debrisfell from an overpass just north of Lake ShoreBoulevard West on Parkside Drive at around 10 a.m. ET Thursday, said Toronto police.

The concrete fell in front of a vehicle, but there were no injuries or damage, said police, who are investigating.

The falling concrete "was a surprise to us," saidJohn Bryson, manager ofstructures and expressways for the City of Toronto.

"It didn't look like it would be a problem, but there is."

This particular overpass was probablylast inspectedtwo or threeyears ago, he said. "Unfortunately ...things deteriorate in those two years."

Crews are doing"controlled chipping" under the overpass, and a private consultant will be on hand to offer advice on how to ensure more chunks don't fall off in the future, said Bryson.

Motorists on the overpass itself are safe, said Bryson, adding the chunk that fell was under the median.

The size of the chunk wasn't immediately clear.

The type of concrete that fell offis known as "cover concrete," and is used to protect the rebar in the structure, said Bryson.

"It is not structural concrete that has really fallen," he said.

The incident comes three days afteranother chunk of concretefell off the Expresswayon Lower Jarvis Street. Cover concrete also fell in that incident, said Bryson.

All but two lanes of traffic in either direction have been closed.