A sinkhole near the concrete barriers on Hwy. 19 near Lantzville has caused the highway to be closed in both directions as emergency crews evaluate the situation. (A;ex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

HIGHWAY CLOSURE

UPDATE: Single-lane alternating traffic established after sinkhole shuts down Hwy. 19 near Lantzville

Nov 18, 2021 | 2:41 PM

UPDATE (6:33 p.m.) — Drive BC says single lane alternating traffic will be in effect in roughly 20 minute intervals for a stretch of Hwy. 19 in Lantzville, the site of a sinkhole in the middle of the road. Evaluations on the road continue.

EARLIER — NANAIMO — A sinkhole on Hwy. 19 between Superior Rd. and Lantzville Rd. has closed traffic in both directions

The hole was discovered shortly after 1 p.m. with Lantzville Fire Rescue crews tasked around 1:20 p.m. It’s located approximately 200 metres north of the Superior Rd. intersection.

Initially, only the inside lanes were closed as the hole began to form near the concrete barriers, but the situation quickly changed to all lanes being shut down in both directions as emergency crews arrived and inspected the situation.

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Northbound traffic quickly backed up to near Woodgrove Centre. According to calls into the newsroom, southbound traffic was also bumper to bumper for several kilometres.

All traffic is being rerouted around the scene, through Lantzville.

DriveBC is providing the latest updates via their website and social media channels. We will update this story as new information becomes available.

Traffic is backed up for kilometres in both directions on Hwy. 19 after a sinkhole formed in the afternoon. This photo is from a DriveBC webcam at NW Bay Rd. (Drive BC)

A traffic map of areas north of Nanaimo show the closure in Lantzville, with backups on Hwy. 19 extending north past NW Bay Rd. and south past Woodgrove Centre. Lantzville is also congested. (Google Maps)

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