King-Spadina closed until end of week for streetcar wire work: TTC
TTC spokesperson says intersection could reopen ahead of time depending on complexity of repairs
The intersection of King Street W. and Spadina Avenue will likely remain closed through Friday, according to a Toronto Transit Commission spokesperson, as crews work around the clock to repair wires damaged after a garbage truck struck them Tuesday morning.
Until repairs are made, Spadina Avenue is closed between Front and Adelaide streets, according to a TTC update. King Street is closed between Charlotte and Brant streets.
The TTC is hopeful the intersection could open ahead of Friday, spokesperson Stuart Green said Wednesday. However, he says the intersection is like a large "spider web" of cables, and the work is complex and time consuming.
"The structural integrity needs to be inspected because these are thick, heavy cables that bear a lot of weight," Green told CBC Radio's Metro Morning . "So we need to make sure the poles are going to be able to hold them when we put the cables back up."
Crews are still assessing the full extent of what needs to be repaired, Green said. Once repairs are made and power is restored, Green said the TTC will run test cars through the intersection before reopening.
The intersection has been closed since just after 8 a.m. Wednesday, when a garbage truck with a bin attached to its raised loader downed several wires. Toronto police said Wednesday that no charges have been laid in relation to the incident.
Transit routes diverted in meantime
The transit agency is rerouting streetcar lines in the area, and supplying replacement buses where possible. Replacement buses were already running north and south bound on Spadina Avenue before Tuesday's incident, to allow for upgrades on the line.
Several streetcar routes are diverted in the area, including the 504 King, 508 Lake Shore, and 510 Spadina.
To avoid diversions, the TTC is encouraging people who use transit in the area to access nearby streetcars on Queen Street for east/west travel, and Bathurst Street for north/south travel.