Two Lawrence Avenue watermains have ruptured, slowing traffic on one of the city's major arteries and leaving some Torontonians without water.
One break is located just west of Lawrence Avenue between Weston Road and Little Avenue, where a pipe burst early Friday morning, Toronto Water spokesperson Catherine Pitt told ctvtoronto.ca.
Three apartment buildings and one medical centre in the area are without water due to repairs to the watermain, Pitt said, though she was unable to provide further details. Toronto Water expects the water to be turned back on for those affected by late afternoon Friday.
"There's been considerable road damage," Pitt said, adding repair crews are on location.
One lane of traffic is moving in each direction on Lawrence Avenue, she said.
The second watermain rupture occurred in the east end at Lawrence Avenue and Kennedy Road sometime late Thursday, Pitt said.
Maintenance crews are working on the break at the Scarborough intersection Friday. A nearby Petro-Canada gas station, Harvey's restaurant and Shoppers Drug Mart are among other local businesses without water due to repairs, Pitt said.
Two northbound Kennedy Road lanes are also closed to motorists as a result.
"It's really a safety measure for drivers and workers," Pitt said.
Watermain breaks are common when the temperature changes considerably in a short span of time. The temperature climbed to the freezing point in Toronto overnight.
