QEW closed at Dixie Road due to concerns about downed power lines

TORONTO -

A portion of the Queen Elizabeth Way in Mississauga that was shut down Wednesday afternoon due to downed hydro wires will remain closed throughout the evening, police say.

Const. Akhil Mooken said a truck hit a hydro pole on South Service Road, near Haig Boulevard, just before 4 p.m. As a result, several utility poles and high voltage power lines were knocked down on the roadway adjacent to the QEW.

Due to concerns that hydro wires running across the highway could fall, police closed the QEW between Dixie and Cawthra roads.

“Our representatives from Alectra Utilities are on site. They are working diligently to resolve the issue,” Mooken said.

“An 80-ton crane has just arrived on scene a short time ago. So Alectra Utilities will be utilizing that crane to essentially pick up the damaged poles off the hydro wires and then relieving some of the stress that's on the line across the highway.”

The cause of the collision is being investigated, but Mooken said the truck was “trying to make some sort of maneuver while navigating this roadway.”

No injuries were reported, but Peel police said that one vehicle occupant was briefly trapped due to wires on top of their car.

Police said Wednesday evening that they hope to reopen the highway before the morning rush hour Thursday.

Alectra said more than 2,000 homes and businesses in the QEW and Cawthra Road area were without power following the incident.

“Previously, we did have numerous traffic lights and residences and businesses that were without power. The vast majority of those businesses and residences have regained power at this time,” Mooken said.

Just after 10 p.m., Alectra said power was restored to all affected customers.

“Now it's just a matter of cleaning up the mess that's been caused here and making sure that the hydro wires that go across the highway are safe,” he said.

South Service Road is also closed between Dixie and Cawthra roads.