Westbound traffic reopened on Como Lake Avenue after parts of the road settled during FortisBC pipeline construction last week.
According to the utility provider, the temporary detour established last Tuesday between Robinson and Townley streets has been removed and vehicles are moving through the area.
“Over the weekend our crews also repaired some cracking pavement that was observed near the Gatensbury Street intersection,” the company said in a statement. “We’re committed to repairing any portions of the road affected by our project and will work closely with the city of Coquitlam to do this.”
Alex Munro, a spokesperson for FortisBC, told The Tri-City News that the hole was approximately 5 m in diameter and had sunk about 20 cm. He added that last week’s closure of the lanes was a precaution.
“Although infrequent, this type of ground movement can happen with deeper excavations like this one, which is about two stories deep and has underground utilities nearby,” he said. “That’s why we have a rigorous safety monitoring program and operating policies in place to maintain safety for the public and our crews.”
Pipeline work has also been completed on Como Lake Avenue between MacIntosh and Porter streets and will continue moving east.
Now, traffic travelling westbound on Como Lake between Schoolhouse and Porter streets will be detoured to Foster Avenue. The Porter Street intersection has also been re-opened for motorists and pedestrians.
“We want to thank the community for its patience and understanding as we complete the construction safely and as quickly as possible,” FortisBC said in a statement.
Last week, Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart blasted FortisBC for causing traffic delays after “localized settlement” shutdown the westbound lanes between Blue Mountain and Robinson streets.
"This unintended closure presents enormous challenges for residents, particularly as there are two elementary schools and a middle school along this corridor," he wrote in a Facebook post.
He added that repairing the work is complicated by the fact there are numerous utilities already underground, including FortisBC's old natural gas line that the company is currently trying to replace.
In March, FortisBC began upgrading its 5.5 km pipeline underneath Como Lake Avenue as part of a larger 20-km project that began in Vancouver. Construction crews have been making their way through Burnaby along the Lougheed Highway over the last year.
