Sinkhole on de la Montagne forces road closure, building evacuation

De laMontagne Streetis shut down in both directions between Wellington and Ottawa streets following the collapse of a sidewalk Friday.

Traffic in both directions is being detoured.

Civil protection officials ordered the evacuation of two residences in a building adjacent to the collapsed sidewalk.They hope to be able to allow the tenantsto return shortly, once inspectors have declared the building to besafe.

A spokesman for Montreal's Southwest borough,ThierryLarive,saidthe hole on the east sidewalk is about 2 metres long.

He saidit appears that the soil underneath the sidewalk has eroded. Crews are on scene.

Larive saidthe street has beenclosed as a precautionary measure, and he expects it will be open in at least one direction by Saturday.