Crews work on Gardiner Expressway after woman claims concrete shattered windshield

The city has yet to determine definitively if the chunk of concrete that smashed a windshield on a woman’s minivan underneath the Gardiner Expressway on Tuesday was actually from the highway.

Meanwhile, crews have been out working on the highway overnight.

The Spadina on and off ramps were closed for a time on Thursday night as crews did an emergency inspection, going underneath the Gardiner checking the underside and going up along the ramps as well, checking for loose bits of concrete.

Driver claims falling concrete from Gardiner shattered windshield

Ali Siddiqi told CityNews his mother was stopped at a red light at Lower Spadina Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard West at around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, when several pieces of concrete fell from the overpass.

At the time Siddiqi was in his own vehicle, one car ahead of his mom’s.

“I noticed my mom’s vehicle — the window was completely shattered in and there was debris all over her car.”

“I saw a giant piece of concrete … laying on the floor.”

Huma Siddiqi says she’s still rattled by the experience, although she wasn’t injured

“All of a sudden I heard a big loud bang and because I was scared I closed by eyes,” she said. “Yesterday I had nightmares.”

The impact shattered the minivan’s windshield.

Ali Siddiqi estimates the largest piece was around 30 centimetres long, and 15 centimetres wide.

The city says it is investigating but has yet to determine if the concrete actually fell from the Gardiner.

“We’ve found that frequently it’s not from the actual Gardiner, but pieces of material that have been pushed off the Gardiner by trucks,” said Public Works Chair, Coun. Jaye Robinson.

“We can say with great confidence that the Gardiner is safe and that it’s structurally sound.”