Unknown when West Pender will reopen between Jervis and Bute
Darah Hansen
Sun
Crews look over the giant sinkhole at Pender and Bute. Photograph by : Mark Van Manen, Vancouver Sun files
VANCOUVER — Some of the 60,000 commuters who head into downtown Vancouver from the Lions Gate Bridge every day face several traffic changes because of the sinkhole that collapsed a portion of West Pender Street Boxing Day.
Tom Timm, head of the city engineering department, warned drivers Monday to expect delays because of the closure of the counter-flow lane on West Georgia at Pender. Drivers will not be able to turn left on Pender while repairs continue to the portion of road damaged by the sinkhole.
Timm said Monday the city was hoping to open Bute Street to left turns off Georgia beginning today, but, as of Monday evening, he was not certain that would be possible.
If not, drivers trying to access streets north of Georgia are advised to continue along Georgia until a left turn is accessible, or take a right at Howe or Smithe, a right on Robson, and then another right on either Hornby or Seymour.
Timm said Bute Street, which has been closed since the Pender Street collapse, is expected to be re-opened today to northbound traffic. For southbound drivers the street will remain closed between Hastings and Pender.
Pender Street will remain closed to all traffic between Jervis and Bute until city engineers determine that what remains of the street beside the hole is stable enough to allow alternating single-lane traffic. Timm said that opening could come as early as next week.
Those hopping the No. 19 trolley bus will also face some changes.
According to TransLink, the westbound No. 19 trolley bus service will now terminate at Seymour and Pender at a temporary station. Diesel-fuelled shuttle buses will then depart every 15 minutes (on the quarter hour) from the terminus, then loop through downtown via: (eastbound) Pender, (northbound) Homer, (eastbound) Hastings, (southbound) Cambie, (westbound) Pender, (southbound) Burrard, (westbound) Georgia to the Stanley Park loop terminus.
Timm said the city is hoping all road and service repairs to Pender Street will be complete by the end of January.
Meanwhile, investigation of what caused the 30-metre long sinkhole is still underway by the city.
TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS MAY LAST UNTIL END OF MONTH:
1. The Sinkhole: A portion of Pender Street collapsed along the edge of a major building excavation site on Monday, Dec. 26. As a result, Pender Street, between Jervis and Bute, is closed until further notice, likely until the end of January.
Commuters should expect the following traffic pattern changes:
2. Closures: Tuesday, Jan. 3. Bute will be open to northbound traffic, but closed to southbound traffic between Hastings and Pender.
3. Left-hand turns: Eastbound traffic will not be able to make a left turn onto Pender from Georgia. Instead, eastbound traffic will be able to access the area by turning left at Bute Street.
4. Counterflow lanes: The counter flow lane on Georgia will be closed to eastbound traffic in morning rush hour. Traffic delays are expected.
The following will be re-routed:
5. No. 19 bus service change: The westbound 19 bus service will terminate downtown at Seymour and Pender at a temporary terminus. Shuttle buses will then depart every 15 minutes (on the quarter hour) from the terminus, before looping through downtown: (e/b) Pender, (n/b) Homer, (e/b) Hastings, (s/b) Cambie, (w/b) Pender, (s/b) Burrard, (w/b) Georgia to the Stanley Park loop terminus.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
