By Oli Herrera

COLLAPSING CONCERNS

Local man concerned Highway 16 will collapse; Ministry says it’s safe

Jul 22, 2021 | 6:16 PM

PRINCE GEORGE–Highway 16 continues to undergo paving this summer as part of a resurfacing project by the province. But a Prince George man is concerned that a part of the road will collapse.

350 kilometers worth of highway is set to be finished this fall, but Russell Bruvold says there’s an area near to Foreman Road and Graves Road on Highway 16 that could collapse.

“The problem is it’s slowly collapsing, it’s cracked. There’s two feet of soil in it and I don’t really think it’s safe,” said Bruvold.

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In some images he shared with CKPG-TV, he describes that the top of the culvert looks like it’s caving in. He says that he’s voiced his concerns to workers but nothing has been done.

“It is a safety concern of mine that I’ve been trying to report to highways for about a month and a half since they started this highway surfacing program,” said Bruvold.

The culvert even has signage posted around it. The words “I’m collapsing” have also been sprayed on top of it.

But the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says it’s safe In a statement to CKPG-TV they say:

The underpass in question is an old cattle crossing that is not currently used for cattle.

This section of Highway 16 is monitored on an ongoing basis by ministry staff and is safe for pedestrian and vehicle traffic. It has not deteriorated in the past ten years and does not require replacement.

Levelling and resurfacing the highway is part of the regular resurfacing program that is expected to be complete by fall 2021.

But to Bruvold, that’s not enough.

“The culvert is slowly collapsing. I don’t believe they’ve even inspected it. For five years, I’ve slowly noticed that. Like I’ve said, for five years I’ve slowly noticed the ends of this culvert coming up from my intersection. I only live a little ways away, it’s visible from my intersection,” said Bruvold.

He says that the pictures he’s taken proves otherwise. He says that one image he took looks like that the foundation under the road is failing.

“You can see right clearly through five feet of dirt to the surface, that it is eroding and caving in. It’s clear,” said Bruvold.

Bruvold says that even though the Ministry says the road is safe, he wants another look at the culvert.

“The highway inspectors that was working with them should walk down on this side of the culvert and have a look. Like I say i think it’s a major safety concern. We got low beds going over this thing that are 70,000 kg, 10 axles. Maybe 90,000 kg.” said Bruvold.