An excavator that plunged into Pontoon Lake near Yellowknife a week ago has been successfully extracted. The excavator, utilized by contractors working on a government road-widening project on Highway 4 (Ingraham Trail), sank into the lake on Aug. 14. CBC News witnessed the excavator being lifted out of the water on Friday afternoon, with the territorial government confirming its retrieval via email. According to a Department of Infrastructure spokesperson, the contractor followed the plan, creating a safe area and relocating the excavator from the water to secure ground on the same day.
This incident marked the second construction equipment mishap in the lake, following a dump truck’s submersion on Aug. 11. The Department of Infrastructure attributed both incidents to embankment slumping. Concerns about water quality arose among residents due to the sunken machinery. However, the N.W.T. Department of Infrastructure clarified that there was no evidence of spills in either case. The department stated that the contractor promptly informed regulators and implemented spill containment measures as a precaution until the excavator was recovered.
In an email update on Friday, the department disclosed that water testing results indicated no issues. Water samples were taken, analyzed in a lab, and confirmed to meet the relevant water quality standards, ensuring the safety of the surrounding environment.
