Shoring wall collapses at Coquitlam, B.C., construction site

A shoring wall at a construction site in Coquitlam, B.C., collapsed on Wednesday, according to the city and the developer of the site.

Real estate developer Amacon confirmed a shoring failure at its site on Foster Avenue and North Road.

Stepan Vdovine, Amacon's vice-president of executive operations, said in a statement that a section of the shoring retention wall on the north side of the site failed, "resulting in soil falling into the excavated site and a cavity in the soil in the area adjacent to the property."

Amacon said no one was injured and the cause of the collapse is being investigated.

The company said all work on the site was done with their proper permits, and was approved and monitored by geotechnical and engineering consultants.

It added that "no immediate infrastructure damage is apparent" and that the 500-block of Foster Street will remain closed to traffic and pedestrians until the proper safety approvals are received.

"We sincerely apologize to local residents for any inconvenience as we work diligently to secure the site," Vdovine said.

Andrew Merrill, the city's general manager of planning and development, says they were notified of a collapse at a site at 500 Foster Ave. around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Merrill said city engineering and public works crew examined the scene and the city is working with the developer's geotechnical engineer, who is responsible for the wall's stability.

""They are in the process of stabilizing that wall and then assessing the others to make sure that they're structurally sound and not moving," Merrill said.

He said there does not appear to be a risk to the public at this time.

On its website, Amacon describes the project as a 44-storey tower that will include nearly 300 homes.

WorkSafeBC said in a statement that its officers have attended the scene.

"We are monitoring the site and remain in contact with the site supervisors," reads the statement.