Public servant spotted cracks before downtown parking garage collapsed
Twelve hours before the collapse of a downtown Ottawa parking garage, Line De Matteis had walked inside without any inkling of the impending disaster. As a public servant, she had been using the garage for parking three days a week since September, with no signs of trouble.
Even as she left the garage on Tuesday evening, there were no indications of any danger. It was only when she noticed cracks in the structure that she became concerned. Immediately, she took a photo of the crumbling concrete and sent it to the management company, marking it as urgent.
The next morning, the top floor of the garage gave way, causing the collapse. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and emergency crews worked tirelessly to clear the area so that Slater Street could be reopened to traffic by Thursday afternoon.
However, the aftermath of the collapse left dozens of vehicles trapped inside the garage, with no immediate solution in sight. De Matteis, who had raised the alarm about the cracks, expressed her shock at the extent of the damage.
Structural engineer Adam Hosny, who was called in to assess the structure the night before the collapse, described his concern upon seeing the failed beam. He and his team were the last people in the garage before the roof caved in, prompting him to warn authorities against allowing anyone back into the building.
De Matteis, who now finds herself working from home, faces uncertainty about where to park in the future. With limited parking options downtown, she worries about the added competition for spots and the inconvenience it will cause for commuters.
As the city grapples with the aftermath of the garage collapse, De Matteis emphasizes the need for more parking availability and improved public transportation to alleviate the strain on commuters. The demolition of the damaged structure continues, with efforts focused on removing the trapped vehicles and ensuring public safety in the area.
