Fourth sinkhole along Evergreen Line closes Clarke Road indefinitely

WATCH: A fourth sinkhole appears along the Evergreen Skytrain construction project. As Jeremy Hunka reports, businesses say enough is enough.

For the fourth time in a year, a sinkhole opened up in Port Moody as a result of Evergreen Line construction.

It happened in the evening of June 5 on Clarke Road just south of Seaview Drive. EGRT construction says it happened while maintenance was being done to the boring machine.

READ MORE: Tri-Cities residents claim Evergreen Line construction is putting lives at risk

“Despite our ground improvement program, some additional ground material entered the TBM chamber and an air pocket developed. The air pocket resulted in a hole in the asphalt on Clarke Road. Safety is the first priority on the Evergreen Line Project and crews are addressing the situation within a secure fenced area,” they wrote.

While the sinkhole was repaired by the next morning, the road is still closed in both directions, and there’s no estimate when it will be reopened. Drivers travelling northbound will be detoured at Glenayre Drive, while southbound traffic on Clarke Road will be detoured at Cecile Drive.

In April, a similar-sized sinkhole formed in the same area, prompting a meeting with nearby residents.

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“There have been challenges with the tunnel, and we continue to work through those challenges,” said Amanda Farrell, the Evergreen Line’s Project Director.

Local businesses say the road closures have reduced customers.

“We are very sympathetic and understand their frustration. I can’t offer compensation at this time, but we will be talking to them about their concerns,” said Farrell.

The $1.43-billion, 11-kilometre line is scheduled to open in fall of 2016.