Damage control is underway after a massive sinkhole swallowed up part of Rideau Street.
Just after 6 o`clock Wednesday evening, the City announced it has moved from response to recovery phase.
Numerous concrete trucks then began lining up to blast concrete into the hole.
Earlier Wednesday, Mayor Jim Watson addressed the media. `We have to use special special concrete that is blown into the whole to stabilize the centre.`
Crews also raced against in the last bit of sunlight to use large hoses to pump water out of the sinkhole.
The city said on its website, it is still too early to determine the cause and this investigation can only begin once the water has been removed from the site.``
The City says the focus remains on public safety.
The Rideau Centre, which was closed for most of the day, tweeted out around 10 p.m. this evening, it will reopen Thursday morning at 6 a.m.
However, the massive infrastructure failure will have major ripple effects on the commute to work Thursday morning.
`Plan your commute well in advance and give yourself lots of extra time,`says John Manconi, OC Transpo GM.
According to the City of Ottawa website, the following road closure are in placeon Rideau:
- Rideau Street/Wellington Street eastbound is closed between Elgin Street southbound and Dalhousie Street
- Rideau Street/Wellington Street westbound is closed between Dalhousie Street and Mackenzie Boulevard
- Colonel By Drive/Sussex Drive is closed between Daly Avenue and George Street
- Elgin Street northbound is closed between Albert Street and Rideau Street
- Colonel By Drive northbound is closed at Main Street
- Mackenzie King Bridge between Waller Street and Elgin Street is closed to general traffic for the peak period to accommodate transit movement.
