b'Amsterdam(continued from page 55)isbeing done. The total cost ofnally structuralworktakingplaceoverthe next few years is estimated at around 450 million Euros or $700 million Cana-dian dollars.After several incidents involving col-lapsed canal walls, an independent re-port concluded, at least 5% of the citys 200 kilometers of brick canal walls are in a poor state of repair, heightening theThe canals of Amsterdam are used byMany houseboats permanently moored risk of collapsing. dozens of sightseeing boats every day. in the canals make construction dif cult.The report also made some recom-mendations that, for the next few years atreplacement. Should they no longer beby checking construction drawings, and least, could fundamentally alter the wayfound to be safe, immediate measuresdetails from previous inspections. the modern city co-exists with the ancientwill be taken. Six bridges have alreadyRepairs are one thing but, there is infrastructure upon which it is built. beenpartiallyorentirelyclosed,andalso a need to rethink how Amsterdam Where necessary, trees may be cutemergency measures have been takengoes about its daily business. This city down,parkingspacesremovedandat some vulnerable points along canals.was, after all, constructed for horse and roads closed to vehicles, weighing moreA spokesperson for the municipality ex- carriage. Today, huge trucks are driving than 3.5 tonnes. A repair budget of 22.5plained that safety always comesover the same quays and bridges. Thisrst, million euros ($35 million CDN$) a yearbut it is a huge puzzle to keep the cityprocess will have to change, if the city is being made available for maintenanceaccessible and livable. is to survive.work. Howdoesacity,supportedtotallyCity of cials are con dent they can Canalwallsintheworstconditionunderwater, check the condition of itsresolveandrewindthepresentde-are at the top of the list for short-termsupportstructure?ThemunicipalityisstructionofAmsterdamsfailinginfra-usingtraditionalmeasuringboltsthatstructure. Tourism will be curbed, and trackstructuralmovements,butalsorepairs will be on going. It would be a more innovative methods such as satel- realshameifthisbeautifulEuropean lite data, sonar and 3D scans. metropolis was on a destructive road of The process of replacing the wallsno return.and bridges is made more complex be-cause of the limited working space onJonathan van Bilsen is a television host, land and water, congested by the pres- award winning photographer, published ence of houseboats. In the past, this hasauthor, columnist and keynote speaker. slowed down even small repair projects,Watch his show, Jonathan van Bilsens but with time running out, of cials arephotosNtravel, on Rogers TV, or YouTube.now expediting these processes.The city is no longer waiting for resultsThis is Jonathans 13th year writingThe nearly 18 million strong annual touristof extensive research, if immediate actionfor Focus on Scugog. That meanstrade adds to the destruction of foundations. is required. Assessments will be madea total of 143 columns!Janet has just returned fromCAYO COCO, CUBAEasily in quarantine, while she works from home, email Janet today to inquire about your vacation!MC158 Casmir St., Port Perryjanet.kelly@marlintravel.ca TICO #457753256FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2020'