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If you’ve seen a sinkhole or road closure in your area, you might be wondering why it isn’t fixed right away. While it can look like nothing is happening, there’s actually a lot going on behind the scenes to make sure the repair is done safely and lasts long-term.
Most sinkholes related to roads are caused by a failed culvert. A culvert is the pipe that carries water under the road (for example, a stream or ditch).
Over time, a culvert can:
When this happens, water starts to wash away the soil under the road. This creates empty spaces underground. Eventually, the road surface can no longer hold its weight and collapses—forming a sinkhole.
Why repairs are more complex than they look
Fixing a culvert isn’t just about replacing a pipe. The ground supporting the road is often gone, so crews need to rebuild the foundation from the bottom up.
Here’s what that involves:
1. Assessing the damage and making the area safe
Crews investigate how far the damage extends underground, since the visible hole is often only a small part of the problem. They also locate underground utilities like gas, water, and power lines before any digging begins.
Engineers also assess the culvert itself. Many older culverts were custom-built, so part of the work is determining whether to replace it with a similar size or adapt it to a standard pipe size, which can sometimes be more cost-effective and easier to maintain.
2. Digging out and stabilizing the area
The damaged section of road is excavated, and unstable, waterlogged soil is removed. Water may be temporarily redirected to keep the work area dry and prevent further erosion.
A strong base of compacted gravel is built first. This step is critical—if the base isn’t solid, the new pipe can fail again. A new culvert is then installed, or in some cases, a new pipe is placed inside the existing one.
The road is rebuilt in layers, with each layer compacted to prevent future sinking. The surface is then repaved, and protective rock (rip-rap) is often added around the culvert to reduce erosion.
Before construction begins, the District needs to:
This planning phase is essential to avoid repeat failures and ensure public safety.
The District is currently addressing culvert failures in multiple locations. While visible construction may not have started yet, assessment and design work is underway to ensure the repairs are done properly and last long-term.
We understand road closures and delays are frustrating, and we appreciate your patience while this work is carefully planned and completed.
Contact Us
District of Sooke
2205 Otter Point Road
Sooke, BC V9Z 1J2
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am – 4:30pm
Phone: 250-642-1634
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