Sinkhole Site Could Reopen Today

Repairs to a sinkhole site on the highway in Vernon should be done by later today, weather permitting.

A four foot diametre hole surfaced Tuesday in the northbound lanes of Highway 97 at the bottom of Hospital Hill near 25th Avenue.

The hole was 12 feet by 40 feet underneath.

It was later determined to be caused by a breach in a culvert running under the road, likely a result of the high flows in Vernon Creek.

Highways district manager Jack Bennetto says about half of the work was done Wednesday, as they fortify the impacted area.

“We are targeting a late afternoon open (Thursday). We haven’t got a specific time, but as soon as we have a better estimate than that, we will put it out on Drive BC.”

He says they are layering gravel and special geo-tech fabric at the site.

Bennetto says it won’t be paved until next week, but traffic will be restored in the northbound lanes.

He says fortunately there hasn’t been any major traffic delays with the route down to just the two southbound lanes.

“I stopped there a few times myself, and I felt the traffic management was really working for a busy highway like that, so no complaints means it must be working.”

(AJ Jacura photo)