Evergreen Line sinkholes: Mayor Mike Clay has confidence in construction

Residents in Port Moody will have a chance to raise concerns about the two sinkholes caused by construction on the Evergreen Line at a public meeting tonight, and Mayor Mike Clay is hoping the dialogue gives them peace of mind as the tunnelling continues.

"No doubt somebody's tunnelling underneath your house and all of a sudden a sinkhole opens up — that's got to be really frightening for people," he told The Early Edition's Rick Cluff.

The first of the two sinkholes opened in in the parking lot of a building on Chateau Place last fall, and a second appeared on Cecile Drive on Jan. 2.

Residents have also raised concerns about cracks appearing in the walls of their homes, noise, vibrations, road closures, parking and what happens if there are problems after construction is completed.

Clay said public meetings and explanations from the company have given him confidence in the process.

"When they explain it to us and what they're doing and they have to essentially back their machine up a little bit, which created a bit of a void in front of it and causes the earth to settle down. It all makes sense when you hear it. You think 'okay, I understand that.'"

Clay said residents need to know their voices are being heard — and that the company will keep its promises about making sure they aren't negatively affected by the new line.

"The provincial Ministry of Transportation team has said that they're committed to ensuring that this isn't damaging anybody's home and if anything happens that they'll make it right."

Officials say the $1.4 billion project is on schedule and will be completed by the summer of 2016.

The community information meeting will be held tonight at Seaview Community School at 7pm.