An excavator that plunged into Pontoon Lake near Yellowknife a week ago has now been successfully extracted. The excavator, utilized by contractors working on a road-widening project for Highway 4 – the Ingraham Trail – fell into the lake on Aug. 14. CBC News witnessed the recovery of the excavator on Friday afternoon, which was later confirmed by the territorial government via email.
According to a Department of Infrastructure spokesperson, in adherence to the plan, the contractor established a secure working area and retrieved the excavator from the water to stable ground on Friday morning. This incident marked the second instance of construction equipment ending up in the lake, following a dump truck’s submersion on Aug. 11, attributed to embankment slumping.
Concerns over water quality arose among residents due to the presence of submerged machinery. However, the N.W.T. Department of Infrastructure assured that there was no evidence of any spills occurring in either situation. The contractor promptly notified the authorities and implemented spill containment measures until the successful removal of the excavator.
Water samples were collected for testing, with results confirming no issues with water quality. The department emphasized that the analysis met the required water quality standards, ensuring the safety of the lake’s water.