What's the cost to repair interlock after a gas line installation crosses the driveway in Vancouver?

Repairing interlock after a gas line installation typically costs $2,500-$6,000 for a standard driveway crossing, depending on the width of the trench and whether the base was properly restored by the utility contractor.

The cost breakdown depends heavily on what condition FortisBC (Vancouver's natural gas utility) left your driveway in after their work. Gas line installations require a trench typically 18-24 inches wide and 3-4 feet deep across your driveway. The quality of the utility's restoration work determines whether you're looking at a simple paver relay or a complete base reconstruction.

Best case scenario — if FortisBC properly compacted the trench backfill in lifts, restored the gravel base to the correct depth, and carefully stored your pavers — you're looking at $15-25 per square foot for relevelling and relaying the pavers. For a typical 20-foot wide driveway with an 18-inch trench, that's about 30 square feet of repair work, costing $450-750. Add polymeric sand replacement across the entire driveway ($300-500) since the joints will be disturbed, and you're at $750-1,250 total.

Worst case scenario — and unfortunately more common — is when the utility contractor inadequately compacts the trench backfill, doesn't restore the proper base depth, or damages pavers during removal. Poor compaction causes the repaired section to settle within 6-12 months, creating a depression that collects water and eventually affects surrounding pavers. Complete base reconstruction means excavating the trench area again, installing 10-12 inches of properly compacted granular base in 2-inch lifts, and rebuilding the entire section. This runs $40-60 per square foot, so that same 30 square foot repair jumps to $1,200-1,800, plus new pavers if originals were damaged ($3-8 per square foot), plus full driveway re-sanding.

Metro Vancouver's clay-heavy soils make proper compaction critical. In Surrey, Richmond, Delta, and parts of Langley where clay content is high, inadequately compacted utility trenches are notorious for settling. The clay subgrade becomes saturated during Vancouver's October-to-March rainy season, and poorly compacted backfill above it acts like a sponge, creating a soft spot that telegraphs up through the base and causes pavers to sink.

Practical steps to protect yourself: Before FortisBC begins work, photograph your driveway's condition and request that they carefully remove and stack pavers for reuse. Ask them to compact backfill in maximum 8-inch lifts (not dump and compact once) and restore the base to the original depth. Get their restoration work in writing as part of the service agreement. If you notice settling within the first year, contact FortisBC immediately — they're responsible for proper restoration and may cover repair costs if their work was inadequate.

When to hire a professional: Any base reconstruction or relevelling more than 20-30 pavers requires professional equipment for proper compaction and screeding. Utility trench repairs also often require matching existing paver colours and patterns, which can be challenging if your driveway is several years old and the pavers have weathered.

The key is ensuring FortisBC does the restoration work properly the first time, because fixing their mistakes later becomes your expense and headache.

---

Looking for experienced contractors? The Vancouver Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Vancouver Safety Surfacing Ltd
• I love kitchens LTD
• Heilman Renovations