Ontario Construction News staff writer
A deep sinkhole opened in the southbound lanes of Hwy. 400 on Tuesday, just north of Line 5 in Bradford West Gwillimbury.
The roadway works surrounding a sinkhole that is at least 11-feet deep may cause some significant delays for drivers, according to police.
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt provided an update on social media Aug. 8, calling the sinkhole “a massive cavity” and warning of significant delays for the next several days on Hwy. 400 southbound with the left lane blocked between Hwy. 88 and Line 5. Crews also closed the northbound left lane to repair the hole.
Sgt. Schmidt said the sinkhole is located along the median strip just north of Line 5.
“You can see relatively new concrete walls here,” Schmidt said in a video.
He initially shows the small hole in the roadway, but when he brings the camera closer it reveals a massive sinkhole that expands under the roadway where a concrete centre median has recently been installed.
While the Ministry of Transportation reported the hole is 11-feet deep, Schmidt said, it looks much deeper.
“It doesn’t look like much from the surface, but once you get down and take a look inside . . . you can see one of the drain tiles and its a massive cavity here right now and they’re wondering how far it expands,” Schmidt said.
“That hole is compromising northbound and southbound lanes. There will be significant delays . . . for the next several days potentially, until this repair can be made.”