Collapsed retaining wall closes Winnipeg street

All four lanes of Sherbrook Street between Elgin and William avenues will be closed to traffic for at least the next five days, after a retaining wall partially collapsed on Wednesday.

The Health Sciences Centre says the shoring at the site of the new women's hospital gave way at around 6 a.m. CT.

No one was injured, but the collapse damaged the southbound lanes of Sherbrook Street as well as the west sidewalk, according to the City of Winnipeg. As well, the west sidewalk has caved in as a result.

Hospital officials initially closed the two affected lanes to traffic, meaning drivers had only one northbound lane and one southbound lane. But shortly before 5:30 p.m., they announced that all four lanes will be closed for five days.

Officials with PCL, the contracting company working on the site, told reporters that a collapse like this is an extremely rare occurrence that may have been caused by heavy rainfall earlier this week.

Crews noticed on Tuesday that the retaining wall shifted by about 20 centimetres. Contracting officials said a full inspection had been planned for Wednesday.

Motorists are being urged to allow more travel time and to use Balmoral and Arlington streets as alternative routes.

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Collapsed retaining wall closes Winnipeg street