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The network, including the electrical supply wires and contact systems, were damaged.

During rush hour on Tuesday evening, almost a dozen TTC trucks and vehicles were parked at the intersection as technicians and engineers furiously worked to restore the wiring. Several detour buses could be seen on King Street and Queen Street, coming frequently to help impacted commuters, easing the flow of traffic after the major disruption. 

Some pedestrians at the intersection were asking TTC workers what happened, confused by the significant repair work, or stopped to take videos and photos. But the vast majority hurriedly walked by as the temperature cooled down and wind picked up.

The streetcar shutdown is another blow to the major downtown street, as traffic on Spadina had already spiked since TTC implemented buses while it upgrades the streetcar. After the Spadina streetcar was replaced with buses, it took a Star reporter 106 minutes to travel 3.5 kilometres from Spadina Station at Bloor Street to the waterfront, compared to the 20 minutes by streetcar. However, traffic improved after dedicated bus lanes were added.

The TTC said on Tuesday evening that several routes are being diverted, including the 504 King, 508 Lake Shore and 510 Spadina, and buses are “supplementing service where possible.” 

Spadina Avenue is closed between Front and Adelaide streets. King Street is closed between Charlotte and Brant streets.

The TTC said it was engaged in a “lengthy” repair process to restore service to King and Spadina streetcar lines after the live wires were brought down on Tuesday morning. 

“Engineers are currently assessing infrastructure including power poles to ensure their integrity,” the TTC said. “Crews are working to repair salvageable wires, installing and configuring new wires, and ensuring breakers and other power systems are operational before testing the system for safe operations.”

“This is like getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar, like up to your elbow,” pc28¹ÙÍøtransit historian, blogger and advocate Steve Munro said of the garbage truck driver.

Munro said newer streetcars rely on pantographs, a technology that prevents wires from breaking down because of weather.

“But if somebody drives a ... dump truck into your intersection, there’s not much you can do about it,” Munro said.

Local resident Taylor Duwyn said she woke up on Tuesday morning and noticed the intersection below her apartment on Blue Jays Way was completely gridlocked. She ventured outside and was met with “hordes” of people, diverted off the streetcar, “walking in every direction.”

“Traffic was jammed all the way back to the Gardiner because everyone could only turn right onto Front, which caused the gridlock. Streetcars were sitting dead on King with no power.”

As a downtown resident, Duwyn said she opts to travel on foot when possible. Transit closures and subsequent delays are a common occurrence in her neighbourhood, she said.

“I’m a huge fan of the transit corridor, but anytime something happens at any intersection, it backs up the entire line, causing huge delays.”

As a result, 504 King eastbound service is diverting via York, Adelaide, and Church and 504 King west bound service is diverting via Church, Richmond, York, Queen and Shaw, with buses supplementing some service.

There are no injuries, police said. 

Police are still investigating whether or not the garbage truck driver was at fault for the incident. 

With files from Abby O’Brien and Clarrie Feinstein.