Heavy machinery digs out sections of Hwy. 19 on Friday, Nov. 19 following a sink hole the day prior shutdown traffic along the major route. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

DAMAGE

VIDEO: Excavation work underway to repair sinkhole on Hwy. 19 north of Nanaimo

Nov 19, 2021 | 9:48 AM

NANAIMO — Work continues to repair a section of Hwy. 19 after a sinkhole shut the highway down.

Heavy machinery was on site on Friday, Nov. 19, further digging out a vehicle-sized hole left by damage which developed the day prior.

The highway remains largely closed to traffic. A majority of vehicles being sent along Lantzville Rd. in north and south directions.

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In an email to NanaimoNewsNOW, the ministry of transportation confirmed repair work continues at the site.

“The ministry has completed its assessment…and has begun work to install new culverts. Equipment and materials have been mobilized to the site and excavation is currently underway.”

Crews evaluate the scope of damage on Hwy. 19 after a sinkhole damaged the road in the northbound lanes on Thursday, Nov. 18. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The sinkhole is approximately 200 metres north of the Superior Rd. intersection.

Crews worked through the night on Thursday Nov. 18 and Friday, Nov. 19 to dig out and stabilize a sink hole on Hwy. 19. (submitted photos)

The sinkhole first appeared on the highway around 1:20 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18 when nearby Lantzville Fire Rescue was tasked with traffic control and scene management.

Emergency crews initially closed the inside ‘fast’ lanes in both directions around 2 p.m., however quickly expanded the closure to both lanes in both directions.

Efforts to evaluate the scene further opened the hole to approximately the size of a small hatchback car, beginning underneath the centre concrete divider and extending part way across the inside, northbound lane.

Traffic quickly backed up as controllers arrived on scene.

Northbound vehicles were rerouted at Superior Rd., with southbound traffic detoured at Lantzville Rd. by the Snaw-Nas-As gas station.

Traffic is backing up past Nanoose Bay and NW Bay Rd. on Friday morning due to a closure on Hwy. 19. (Google Maps)

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