Post by ocelot on Aug 25, 2007 19:38:13 GMT -5
Workers reinforce cracked Montreal tunnel as downtown, Metro closures continue
Last Updated: Saturday, August 25, 2007 | 6:34 PM ET
CBC News
A seven-block perimeter of downtown Montreal remained cordoned off Saturday and part of a subway line remained closed as workers installed a series of posts to reinforce a cracked tunnel.
STM says there will be no service on the Green line between the Berri-UQAM and Lionel-Groulx stations for the weekend.
Problems were first spotted around 1:30 p.m. ET Friday, when employees working in the basement of the landmark Bay department store on Maisonneuve Boulevard noticed water leaking from the ceiling, which had dropped a few centimetres.
Authorities emptied buildings and sealed off a large section of the downtown core, as well as cancelling service on part of one subway line after the fissure and a second one were discovered in the tunnel linking the McGill Métro station to malls.
On Saturday, city officials told reporters that about 1,000 posts were being erected to support a slab of concrete, which has two cracks extending the length of a city block.
Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay said the security perimeter would remain and no cars would be allowed to enter the area until authorities feel certain the 40-year-old structure is safe.
Several hundred people were forced to leave the Bay and the McGill station was shut down as a precaution, causing commuter and traffic hassles.
The tunnel, running between Aylmer Street and Union Avenue, was at risk of collapsing, officials said.
The Métro's Green line between Berri-UQAM and Lionel-Groulx stations will be closed at least until Monday, transit officials say. They're encouraging people to use the Orange line.
Last Updated: Saturday, August 25, 2007 | 6:34 PM ET
CBC News
A seven-block perimeter of downtown Montreal remained cordoned off Saturday and part of a subway line remained closed as workers installed a series of posts to reinforce a cracked tunnel.
STM says there will be no service on the Green line between the Berri-UQAM and Lionel-Groulx stations for the weekend.
Problems were first spotted around 1:30 p.m. ET Friday, when employees working in the basement of the landmark Bay department store on Maisonneuve Boulevard noticed water leaking from the ceiling, which had dropped a few centimetres.
Authorities emptied buildings and sealed off a large section of the downtown core, as well as cancelling service on part of one subway line after the fissure and a second one were discovered in the tunnel linking the McGill Métro station to malls.
On Saturday, city officials told reporters that about 1,000 posts were being erected to support a slab of concrete, which has two cracks extending the length of a city block.
Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay said the security perimeter would remain and no cars would be allowed to enter the area until authorities feel certain the 40-year-old structure is safe.
Several hundred people were forced to leave the Bay and the McGill station was shut down as a precaution, causing commuter and traffic hassles.
The tunnel, running between Aylmer Street and Union Avenue, was at risk of collapsing, officials said.
The Métro's Green line between Berri-UQAM and Lionel-Groulx stations will be closed at least until Monday, transit officials say. They're encouraging people to use the Orange line.
