Power on the Hill restored in an hour after trees knock out lines

An hour-long power outage in the central part of the city on Monday evening is being blamed on high winds knocking trees onto power lines.

Power went out for about 4,100 customers in the Southeast and Southwest Hill areas at about 6:45 p.m. as wind gusts arrived in the city.

Gusts of up to 45 kilometres per hour were recorded by Environment Canada after a day of relative calm. City crews cleared lines and restored power to all customers by 7:45 p.m. according to city communications officers.

It was the third time this summer the area had been temporarily without power, including two notable instances in June.

Road Closure

A samll portion of South Railway Street will be closed for about two weeks later this month, with two-way traffic detoured to Factory Street.

Contractors have been replacing underground pipes and sewers in the area and repaving the aging road for most of the summer, but have maintained traffic in at least one direction thus far.

Now, contractors are planning to bore two holes beneath the rail crossing near Factory Street to run steel pipes and telecommunications lines beneath the spur rail line in the southern portion of the route.

The work, commencing Aug. 28, should be completed in two weeks, according to a city release.

The remainder of South Railway Street remains open to traffic.

Broken sprinklers thwart tinklers

The men’s washroom at South Ridge Community Park will be closed until next week, a city release states, as crews perform repairs on nearby irrigation works. The washroom could be reopened near the end of next week.

Correction

In Monday’s story “SD76 rejects petition for the last time” the subhead incorrectly states Concerned Parents missed “the required signatures by 77.”

This should have read 67.