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

Around-the-clock work to reopen major intersection The damage to a streetcar wire by a garbage truck has caused massive gridlock downtown as the TTC races to repair it.

A busy downtown Toronto intersection will be closed for the rest of the week after a garbage truck downed overhead wires on Tuesday morning, causing headaches for transit users and motorists alike.

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 intersection is “very complex” and will likely be closed until the end of the week as repairs get underway.

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.