Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Toronto has launched an investigation after a construction crane being transported on a barge the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant outfall project may have caused a major power outage on Thursday.
“We’re investigating reports that a barge carrying a crane came into contact with high-voltage transmission lines in the Port Lands area,” Hydro One stated. “We continue to try and reroute power.”
The incident occurred away from the construction sites while the barge was in transit within the Port of Toronto water ways. No injuries were reported.
Videos posted online show a crane in contact with hydro wires and a spokesperson from Hydro One says they are investigating reports that a barge carrying an extended crane touched high voltage lines in the Port Lands area of Toronto.
The hydro outage impacted downtown Toronto including the Eaton Centre and Toronto Police headquarters. Power was restored just before 8 p.m., Hydro One stated on Twitter.
“The city has been made aware that the power outage affecting downtown Toronto may have been caused by a subcontractor to the main contractor for the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant outfall project,” the Toronto officials stated in a media release.
A full report has been requested from the main contractor “to understand what happened and what needs to be done to ensure this does not happen again.”
