Burnaby sinkhole on Albert Street grows larger overnight

A large sinkhole that opened up in Burnaby, B.C., near the 4800 block of Albert Street on Monday has grown larger overnight according to worried residents.

Albert Street was closed between Gamma and Delta Avenues after the sinkhole was discovered, but on Tuesday morning residents said more of the road had collapsed overnight.

"It's kind of surprising to see that big of a thing can happen so suddenly because there could have been somebody driving there," said one resident Rose Mactavish.

On Monday evening officials estimated the sinkhole was five metres long, two metres wide and more than a metre deep. 

But Metro Vancouver spokesperson Marilyn Towill said while the road continues to settle, there is no more water coming down and the problem is not getting worse.

"There was quite a bit of gravel that washed out from underneath the asphalt road surface last night when the water was running down. Once that gravel is gone, then the asphalt will settle over time," she said.

"From what we have found so far, it is contained to the utility structure, and we have no concerns it going to threaten people's homes," she said.

The investigation into the exact cause is still underway, but it looks like the sinkhole was caused by the water utilities in the neighbourhood.

"The water came from a chamber up the hill. Looks like it undermined the road, ran along where some previous utility pipes had been running along the road, and has basically washed out the road base, and that's why we see some settlement," said Towill.

Crews will excavate the hole and rebuild the gravel base to repair the road, she said.

Repairs are expected to take a couple of days if not until the end of the week.