Massive sinkhole along Highway 11 damages several vehicles

A sinkhole that disrupted traffic along Highway 11 and sent one person to hospital has been repaired.

A massive sinkhole wreaked havoc along Highway 11 in Gravenhurst Thursday after several vehicles sustained damage and one person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Multiple 911 calls about the sinkhole forced police to close the northbound lanes at Rainbow Circle, near Sparrow Lake Route D around 2 p.m. Thursday.

OPP Const. Samantha Bigley said a response plan was set in progress, and officials were assessing the extent of the damage before determining the next steps. A detour was set in place throughout the day with the hopes of reopening later in the evening.

Drivers were advised by police to plan alternate routes and expect delays through the area. Thursday evening provincial police said the repairs were ongoing, with an anticipated reopening time around 10 p.m., but that turned into an overnight closure that lasted into Friday morning at Coopers Falls Road.

Police reopened the southbound lanes around 10:30 a.m. Friday. “Crews are working hard on the northbound lanes,” OPP stated.

All lanes of Highway 11 have since reopened.