Sinkhole risk keeps part of Silica Street closed after Nelson water-main break
City of Nelson issued this public notice Sept. 3 after a water-main break at Silica and Hall streets led to road closures and repairs.
NELSON — The 500 and 600 blocks of Silica Street will remain closed overnight after a water-main break sent water beneath the roadway, damaged the road base and created a risk of sinkholes.
The City of Nelson said Thursday evening that water from the break travelled beneath the asphalt and compromised the structural integrity of the road sub-base. Continued settlement affected additional areas of the roadway through the day, creating further safety concerns.
The break occurred near Silica and Hall streets early Thursday, Sept. 3. The initial call was received at approximately 1 a.m., when Nelson Fire Rescue and Public Works crews responded to a report of water coming from the roadway.
While crews were responding, an engine encountered a sinkhole that had formed beneath the road. The weight of the truck caused the asphalt to give way, according to the city. The engine sustained minimal damage and remained fully operational.
An emergency alert dated 7 a.m. described the incident as a major water-main break and closed the 600 and 700 blocks of Silica and Hall streets. The city also asked people to avoid travelling on Josephine Street to Baker Street because of debris cleanup.
A 7:30 a.m. city update said four homes were without water and that the affected residents had been notified.
By 2 p.m., the city said water service was affected at approximately 20 homes. As of 1:30 p.m., service was out on the 600 block of Silica Street, the 600 block of Hall Street and the 600 and 700 blocks of Carbonate and Josephine streets.
The cause of the break remained undetermined as of the afternoon update. Crews were working to restore water service, while localized road repairs were also planned to provide access to private property. Any vehicle access provided in the affected area was restricted to local traffic.
By 6 p.m., the Water Utilities team was nearing completion of the water-main repair and expected to have service restored to all affected residents Thursday evening.
The city said the site would be backfilled Friday morning, followed by further assessment and repairs to the roadway. The 500 and 600 blocks of Silica Street remained closed Thursday evening because of the sinkhole risk, with crews scheduled to return early Friday morning.
The city's emergency alert said crews hoped to fully reopen the affected area by the end of Friday, Sept. 4, while the broader city update said the road would reopen as soon as it was safe to do so.
Residents are being asked to obey road-closure and barricade signs and avoid the affected area while repairs continue. The city said another update would be provided Friday.
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