A small sinkhole in the 700 block of Victoria Rd. has temporarily shut down non-local traffic for the foreseeable future. (City of Nanaimo)

By Ian Holmes

sinkhole

‘It’s nothing to panic about:’ small sinkhole forms in south Nanaimo

Jan 17, 2024 | 1:11 PM

NANAIMO — A portion of a busy south end street is closed to non-local traffic after a resident noticed a small sinkhole forming on Victoria Rd.

The City of Nanaimo’s general manager of engineering and public works Bill Sims said access on Victoria Rd. between Rainer and Needham St. is restricted to local residents only until further notice the situation was noticed over the weekend.

Sims added a geotechnical expert recommended the City restrict traffic flow in the area in response to small depressions on the paved shoulder of the road and City boulevard right of way in front of a Victoria Rd. home.

“It sunk around about a foot in total in the worst case, and according to the resident that phoned it in it drops in sort of two stages,” Sims told NanaimoNewsNOW.

While the City suspects an old filled-in mineshaft is the cause, Sims said they are investigating to pin-point what prompted the “isolated pocket.”

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He said it’s also possible an old utility pipe or manhole was infilled.

When the void is identified Sims said low-strength concrete will be used to fill it.

“It’s localized at this point and we’ve seen this in the past in this corridor where there’s been some site drops and then we’re able to deal with it as they come up individually,” Sims said.

While news of a sinkhole forming in the neighbourhood could be alarming to some, Sims said local residents and the public shouldn’t be concerned.

“It’s nothing to panic about, we’re closing the road out of an abundance of caution for the traveling public.”

Sims said it’s unclear how long restricted traffic flow in the 700 block Victoria Rd. will be in place, but he doesn’t think the disruption will be a long-term issue.

Detours for the time being are in place on Nicol St. and Bruce Ave.

Small sinkhole’s popping up around Nanaimo “happens occasionally” Sims noted, stating old coal mine shafts caused many of these incidents.

Sims recalled sporadic and relatively minor depressions formed in the past on private property and roadways in the downtown and Diver Lake areas as a result of coal mining activity.

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ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes