Busy downtown Toronto intersection to be closed for the rest of the week to make way for repairs: TTC

A busy downtown Toronto intersection is set to stay closed for the remainder of the week to make way for around-the-clock repairs after a garbage truck downed overhead wires on Tuesday morning, snarling streetcar service along several routes as well as drivers heading toward the Gardiner Expressway.

The intersection of King Street and Spadina Avenue was shut down at approximately 8:15 a.m. after a truck made contact with the overhead wires, which provide power to the streetcar network. 

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said in an interview with CP24 Tuesday afternoon that the “complexities” regarding this particular intersection and the work that lies ahead for their engineers.

“It’s a very complex intersection. The rail infrastructure is complex, the overhead is complex,” Green said.

“It’s going to be a lot of work, we’re going to have crews around there around the clock probably for the next two or three days, at least until the end of the week.” 

Repair work continues on King Street West and Spadina Avenue after a truck downed the power lines in the area.

The transit agency said in a release that its engineers are assessing the infrastructure with crews working to repair salvageable wires, “installing and configuring new wires, and ensuring breakers and other power systems are operational before testing the system for safe operations.”

Ultimately, Green says safety will play a key factor in when streetcar service will resume.

To make way for repair work, the TTC says streetcar routes will be diverted. King Street will remain blocked off in both directions between Brant and Charlotte streets while Spadina Avenue will be completely closed from Front and Adelaide streets.

The transit agency says “several routes” will be diverted for the rest of the week, including 504 King, 508 Lake Shore, and 510 Spadina. The TTC encourages commuters impacted by these diversions to use Queen or Bathurst streets to hop aboard the streetcar, while Wheel-Trans customers can request door-to-door service as needed.

“If anyone is travelling through this area for the next few days, it’s best to either give yourself some extra time or perhaps find another way around,” Green said.

No injuries were reported from the morning’s collision, but police said live wires did fall to the ground after they became entangled with the vehicle.

It remains unclear how exactly the wires were damaged, but images from the scene appeared to show the garbage truck with its loader in the raised position.