Two workers have been taken to hospital — one with life-threatening injuries — after a cable snapped on the Burlington Lift Bridge.

Halton Police said the incident happened at 1:30 p.m. at Beach Boulevard and Eastport Drive.

Police spokesman Barry Malciw said three contractors were near the top of the bridge on scaffolding, installing an electrical wire. Malciw said it wasn't clear whether the wire snapped and struck them or whether they fell as a result of the wire snapping.

One of the workers sustained no injuries, one had minor injuries and the third was knocked unconscious.

The two injured were both transported to hospital -- the one with minor injuries to Burlington's Joseph Brant, and the other to Hamilton General.

Halton Police constable Vince Mulholland was a first responder when the incident occurred. He described the scene as an "industrial accident."

The Ministry of Labour has been called to investigate.

The bridge is operated by Public Works and Government Services Canada.

Eastport Drive was closed in both directions for a few hours but has now been reopened.

The Burlington Lift Bridge, built in the 1960s, sits at the Lake Ontario entrance to Hamilton Harbour and lifts to allow both Great Lakes freighters and pleasure craft passage in and out of the harbour. The bridge lifts vertically up to 33 metres.

Thoughts and prayers are with two workers injured after a cable snaps on the Burlington Lift Bridge <a href="https://t.co/ibR9fcF1eL">https://t.co/ibR9fcF1eL</a> —@EMcMahonMPP <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Burlington?src=hash">#Burlington</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eastport?src=hash">#Eastport</a> Dr SB at the Lift Bridge, all lanes are closed. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ONHwys?src=hash">#ONHwys</a> —@511Ontario