Update: Sinkhole Stops Traffic

Highway 97 has been shut down at the bottom of Hospital Hill until further notice.

It’s due to a sinkhole in the northbound lanes near 25th Avenue by the entrance to Polson Park.

The southbound lanes were also shutdown as a precaution.

Photo: A crew works on a sinkhole on Highway 97 near 25th Ave in Vernon. Kelly Ackeral photo

Captain Reinhard Mann from Vernon Fire Rescue outlined the situation as of 6 pm:

“The ground has been undermined right next to the creek culvert, and right now the hole underground is about 12 feet by 40 feet,” Mann tells Kiss FM.

Mann says a hole about four feet in diameter was visible on the surface.

He says there were no injuries from the incident.

“I’m surprised there isn’t a vehicle there because it’s a big hole.”

Emergency officials have been detouring vehicles around the site, using 34th Street, Mission Road and College Way through Coldstream.

Mann expected the highway to be closed most of the night.

“Until they can get engineers to assess the southbound lanes to make sure they’re safe, they will be staying closed.”

5:30 pm story

Traffic is being redirected on Highway 97 at the bottom of Hospital Hill

It’s due to a sinkhole on the left side of the northbound lanes near the entrance to Polson Park across from the Green Valley Motel.

Emergency officials are detouring vehicles onto 34th Street/Mission Road around the site until further notice.

People are asked to avoid the Fruit Union Plaza intersection as traffic is super backed up.