OTTAWA, Ont. — Three days after it was driven into a sinkhole on Highway 174, crews have hauled the white Sedan  out of the collapsed storm sewer under the Jeanne D’Arc off-ramp.

It is expected to be at least another week before traffic returns to normal on the eastbound 174.

The city has ordered the 18 sections of pipe needed to repair the sewer main and sink hole that swallowed a car near the Jeanne D’Arc exit Tuesday afternoon.

The white car is still in the sinkhole, where it has shifted into the 3.6-metre sewer pipe. City crews expect the car to remain under underground for another few days.

The city has paid $15,000 for a rush order on the piping, which is being manufactured by Toronto-based Hanson Pipe & Precut. City officials had to look across Canada and the United States to find a company that could produce the piping.

Mayor Jim Watson said two pieces of the piping were set to arrive Friday, but they would have to wait a few more days for the rest of the pieces to get to Ottawa.

He said crews have begun preparation work for the time being.

“Staff have stabilized the surrounding area to prevent any further or broader collapse, and to have pumping stations in place to handle any water runoff during this repair period,” said Watson.

He said a quick repair job was not an option, because they wanted to ensure the work would last.

That work will be time consuming, and take several more days after the piping finally arrives.

“We will be starting in the median lane, closer to the westbound lane and then making our way south towards the eastbound lanes,” said Alain Gauthier, the City’s manager of assets and management. “Basically this is like Lego blocks, they all connect into each other so we need to proceed in that sequence.”

Gauthier said they are working with suppliers to build relationships, so if something like this were to happen again, they would be able to get their hands on the supplies needed more quickly.

For the time being, commuters are being asked to either carpool, take the bus or travel to Orleans during non-peak hours.

“We’re asking residents, recommending that they use transit to get to and from where they’re going,” said Phil Landry, with the city’s traffic management division said. “Delays for transit are a lot less than vehicles, so it’s a good way to get to and from downtown.”

During peak periods, OC Transpo buses will use a westbound lane of the 174 to drive to Orleans.

The city has released a list of alternatives;

    174 to Montreal to St. Joseph
    174 to Blair to Innes
    Ogilvie to Montreal to St. Joseph
    Rockcliffe Parkway to St. Joseph
    Blackburn Hamlet By-pass to Innes or Navan
    Walkley to Ramsayville to Ridge to Anderson to Renaud
    Russell to Milton to Navan to Tenth Line

It’s not yet clear how much the emergency repairs will cost. Watson said the city is not currently facing any lawsuits over the sinkhole incident.

Click here for the latest updates on the City’s website.