Sandwich Town residents forced to cross town for mail after Canada Post pauses direct delivery

Some residents in a section of Windsor, Ont., aren't directly receiving their mail right now because of construction around the Gordie Howe bridge. 

Canada Post says it has paused direct delivery to parts of Sandwich Town and residents must pick up their mail at a Walker Road depot, but the residents say this is a major inconvenience for them.

Joyce Boismier has been living on Sandwich Street for 40 years.

She said it was a neighbour who advised her that Canada Post was not delivering mail, adding that "it's been tough" for her because of her age.

"I do drive, but I don't like going out that far and I've never been there, so I got a little nervous," she said.

Boismier said she and three others organized a carpool and made a trip to the pick up location.

"I had a cheque waiting in the mail, it had been sitting there for a week and a half," she said. "I got another one coming Monday, so now I got to find somebody to bring me out there."

Another resident, Tom Ridsdale, said he's been living there for close to 10 years. He only learned Wednesday that Canada Post is not delivering mail.

"I have issues with my health … I don't have a vehicle, it takes at least two hours for me to ride the bus to get there and I have back issues so sitting on a bus is just not happening," Ridsdale said.

"I'd be in for more pain than it's worth."

Ridsdale said he will have to rely on his neighbours to get his mail from the pick up location.

The situation is also not sitting well with the Windsor West NDP MP Brian Masse.

He's penned a letter to the crown corporation looking for further explanation.

"I have lodged an official complaint against Canada Post as they have paused direct mail service to businesses and single-dwelling residents in Sandwich due to ongoing construction," he sent out on social media, calling for a "quick resolution."

Masse says the service suspension is "challenging," and forces residents to travel to the Walker Road depot to grab their mail. And the hours run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

He says this makes it especially difficult for members of the community such as seniors, students, people with disabilities and low-income earners. 

The member of parliament also claims Canada Post declined an offer from the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) to collaborate on a temporary mobile mail clinic, so people wouldn't have to travel as far.

Canada Post monitoring situation

Canada Post said the suspension of delivery is due to ongoing construction on Sandwich Street in Windsor. 

"Our local operations team is monitoring the situation. Portions of the area that are safe and accessible have been receiving regular mail delivery," Phil Rogers, a media relations officer, wrote in an email.

Rogers said the local operations team is working on installing temporary community mailboxes to resume delivery to all affected addresses until the construction project is finished, and Canada Post will be in touch with residents with more information once they are installed.

According to Masse, some Sandwich Town residents have had their mail service paused for roughly the past 10 days — and that they were only notified at the end of last week.

A spokesperson for WBDA said initial discussions with Canada Post prior to the start of the construction activities indicated mail delivery to residences and businesses along Sandwich Street would continue through the duration of the project.

"WDBA representatives met with Canada Post upon learning of a change in mail delivery to discuss alternatives, such as temporary community mailboxes," Manny Paiva wrote in an email to CBC News.

Pavia said the team expects to begin paving activities from Chappell to Watkins during the week of Aug 19, and other blocks will follow in the coming months.