Burst sewer pipe repaired after 8 months, City of Vancouver says

Terminal Avenue's eastbound lanes were closed Saturday morning between Quebec and Main streets due to a "sewer main issue," according to the City of Vancouver. (CTV News)

A stretch of road by Science World is now open to traffic and pedestrians after a months-long closure due to a sewer main leak, the City of Vancouver said Friday.

The eastbound lanes of Terminal Avenue between Quebec and Main streets have been closed off since June 22 last year, when the pipe began leaking sewage onto the road.

Read more: Burst Vancouver sewage pipe still not repaired after 27 days

The failure came as a surprise as sewage mains have a lifespan of 100 years, and the broken pipe was only 26 years old, according to the city.

In the following two months city crews built a temporary above-ground bypass pipe to direct the sewage around the damaged area, which will remain in use for some time. The city says a permanent repair will begin “later this year.”

Investigation into what caused the leak, and excavation around the damaged pipe to assess it began in late October.

The city says planning work was complex because the leak is close to third-party infrastructure and is impacted by tidal conditions.

“The extended closure of Terminal Avenue eastbound was required to investigate the potential causes of the failure and to assess and address any soil stability issues caused by the leaking pipe,” a bulletin reads. “Those issues have now been resolved, and geotechnical engineers have confirmed that all eastbound lanes can reopen.”

The investigation revealed corrosion was the culprit behind the leak, but the city says a probe into the cause of said corrosion is ongoing, the results of which will inform the design of the permanent repair.

“The city appreciates residents, businesses and commuters for their patience and cooperation during this critical repair work,” it wrote.