Giant sinkhole closes SE Marine Drive for at least one week

apple3800

VANCOUVER -- Motorists using South East Marine Drive will have to seek alternative routes for the rest of the week as the sinkhole which opened up Sunday has proved bigger than expected.
Vancouver city engineers have found the sub-surface damage to be more extensive than first thought.
Initially, the city engineers believed the road — closed between St. George St. and Fraser Sunday afternoon — would be reopened by Tuesday but shortly after 2 p.m. Monday they revised that estimate and said the road would likely be closed in both directors for the rest of this week.
Motorists are being encouraged to find alternative routes north of Marine Drive to ease the traffic congestion that has occurred on Kent as motorists use that street to bypass the affected area.
According to a notice from the city, the cause of the sinkhole which was 30 feet long by 15 wide and 20 feet deep, has yet to be determined.
Running under the road is an eight-foot Metro Vancouver sewer line, above which lies a 12-inch city water main with a Terasen Gas line running closer to the surface.
Heavy equipment has been brought to the site to excavate the sewer line so it can be repaired or replaced.
Following that, city work crews will replace or repair the water main and then Terasen crews will work on the gas line.
Once all the lines are repaired or replaced city crews will fill in the sinkhole and repave the street — one of Vancouver's main arterial roads.
Gas service is still out for several businesses on the south side of Marine Drive.
Water and gas services have been returned to other businesses and residence.

apple3800

South East Marine Drive 的St. George St. 到 Fraser 路段预计要双向关闭一个星期