Sinkhole forms near Albert Street Bridge after pipe fails in backyard

A large excavation is going on in a Regina backyard, and it has nothing to do with planting a garden.

A dip in the ground was first pointed out when storms battered Regina in early June. A sinkhole eventually formed due to a collapsed underground storm trunk.

The hole is three metres deep and three metres across in a backyard near the Albert Street Bridge. The hole is currently full of sandbags, and is tarped over and fenced off.

Kurtis Doney, the acting executive director of citizen services, said the City of Regina has known about the sinkhole for the past week. Plans for construction on a temporary drainage system will begin by the end of this week with site preparation beginning on Wednesday.

“We have taken steps to reduce the risks as much as possible, but we are in an emergency situation where it is critical to get this stormwater pipe up and going,” he said Tuesday.

Construction will take place in Wascana Park, just west of Wascana Pool near the Albert Street Bridge. In order to access the storm drains, trees and streetlights in Wascana Park will be removed.

Trees that are to be cut down in Wascana Centre to make way for the construction project. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)

Due to the size of the nine new storm trunks going into the park, Doney said people should expect road closures near the Albert Street Bridge.

The pipes that are currently in place are from 1948.

“We are thankful the rain has slowed over the past week, but it’s very important that the stormwater bypass gets in place before the next rainstorm event,” said Doney.

Environment Canada’s forecast has predicted a 60 per cent chance of showers for Wednesday evening. Doney referred to this storm trunk as “significant” in providing storm water drainage from Albert Street to Winnipeg Street from College Avenue to Victoria Avenue.

The city received geotechnical expertise for a temporary stormwater service so water can drain into Wascana Creek.

“We do believe that any rainwater that falls will make its way through the broken pipe and into Wascana Creek, but we need to move quickly to ensure a temporary stormwater system is in place,” said Doney.

Nine new, very large pumps will be activated during the storm into an excavation trench into Wascana Lake.

The estimated cost of the bypass pumps right now is $200,000 to $300,000, but that is “the beginning as we work to develop long-term solutions,” Doney said. The money will come out of the Utility Reserve Budget, and the Utility Operating and Capital Budget.

There isn’t an estimated cost on the adaptation of the permanent storm drainage system for the area.

Doney said the city has invested in many stormwater upgrade projects for the future to reduce the risk of flooding and sewage backups.