Trespasser crawling through ceiling floods Portage and Main concourse, says city

A trespasser decided to crawl through the ceiling space overnight in the Portage and Main concourse and managed to cause extensive water damage.

Crews were busy cleaning up water damage on the concourse under Portage and Main on Wednesday morning after somebody broke a sprinkler in the ceiling, according to the city.

The city released this statement to Global News on Wednesday afternoon:

“Last night at approximately 11:30 p.m.,  a sprinkler outside of the former TD Bank at 201 Main St. in the concourse was struck by an individual who was in the ceiling space.  As a result, there is extensive water damage to the drywall ceiling. The wheelchair lifts are also closed pending their inspection.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Last night at approximately 11:30 p.m.,  a sprinkler outside of the former TD Bank at 201 Main St. in the concourse was struck by an individual who was in the ceiling space.  As a result, there is extensive water damage to the drywall ceiling. The wheelchair lifts are also closed pending their inspection.

“At this point, it is not clear how this individual made their way into the ceiling space, and a police report was filed regarding this incident.”

Photos from the tunnels near 201 Portage show water covering the floor and part of the ceiling torn apart with the swollen pieces soaking up puddles on the ground.

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Vacuum trucks were also on scene to clean up the water.

It was initially suspected that the rain had caused the roof to collapse.

Thousands of people pass through this underground stretch every day during the week.

“It’s not good, it’s not good for our business. I work for a company here and if clients are walking through here it doesn’t look very good,” said Shauna Mager. “I think the money should be going towards this and maybe not the overpass they they want to do over Portage and Main.”

Wheelchair access down the stairs was also blocked off as of early Wednesday afternoon.

“For them this is a really big issue because where are they going to go next? I actually don’t know if there’s other handicap areas to come down here,” said Dani Wenger.

Global News has also reached out to the building’s property manager.