Power restored in Toronto after crane hits transmission line
Power has been restored in Toronto's downtown core after an hours-long outage caused major disruptions in the city Thursday.
Hydro One confirmed the restoration around 8 p.m., saying that some 10,000 residents and businesses who had been without power for most of the afternoon and evening now have electricity.
“Safety is always our top priority. We know this power outage has made today exceptionally difficult for many of you, and we appreciate your patience,” David Lebeter, chief operating officer of Hydro One, said in a statement.
“We had all available resources helping to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. I want to thank all of those affected by this outage for their patience and Toronto Fire and Toronto Hydro for their collaboration.”
Officials said the outage was caused by a large crane that struck a high-voltage transmission line earlier in the day.
In a statement, officials confirmed that a barge moving a crane in the upright position ran into the lines in the Port Lands area. This in turn caused a ripple effect, resulting in damage to equipment at a power station near The Esplanade and Lower Sherbourne Street.
"In the coming days, crews will continue work on the lines damaged by the crane."
Several blocks within the Financial District and the area of Yonge and Dundas streets, including Yonge-Dundas Square itself, lost power just after 12:30 p.m.
The big screens that usually display advertisements in that area were also down.
Other areas affected by the outage included the Toronto police headquarters, St. Lawrence Market, Toronto City Hall, and the Eaton Centre, which was forced to partially close at one point but has since reopened.
Toronto Transportation Services said the outage spanned at least a four-block radius.
Toronto Hydro's outage map showed the areas within College Street to the Gardiner Expressway and between the Bayview Extension and University Avenue were without power.
- LIVE LOOK: Toronto Hydro outage map
Toronto Hydro told CP24 earlier in the day that a large crane in the city’s Port Land’s neighbourhood had struck a high-voltage transmission line, though it was unclear at that time if that was the cause of the outage.
In a follow up tweet, Hydro One -- which had been working alongside the city’s power utility throughout the outage -- all but confirmed the impact of the crane was the source of the outage with images attached of the “transmission circuit that's been affected.”
It’s unclear how the crane was able to make contact with the high-voltage line that left so much of the downtown core without electricity.
TORONTO LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO OUTAGE
Officials with the City of Toronto said they have launched a full investigation into the downtown outage.
In a statement, officials said the outage may have been caused by a subcontractor to Southland-Astaldi Joint Venture (SAJV), a contractor for the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant outfall project.
"An investigation is currently underway after a barge with a crane came into contact with overhead Hydro One wires," the city said. "The incident occurred away from the construction sites while the barge was in transit within the Port of Toronto water ways."
The city said it has also requested a full report from SAJV in order "to understand what happened and what needs to be done to ensure this does not happen again."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.