By Marty Proctor
Tuesday, July 7 – traffic was diverted around a depression on the westbound lane on SR50 next to the McDonalds and Alabama Avenue. The sinkhole opened yesterday afternoon and the road obstruction continued well into the night.
Geo Tech Testing was on-site to perform a cone penetration test (CPT). “We are here to perform the subsurface investigation below the depression,” stated the on-site lead with Geo Tech Inc. “There is a cavity underneath the road surface a few feet in diameter but that’s not the whole story.”
As of 9 pm, crews were still very much on the scene. The road remained closed until the extent of the subsurface damage was known. A CPT is planned to determine the depth and size of the void below the road surface. The test will also provide side slip and other local soil stability data.
The engineers are on-site to make the determination of how to remedy the specific void and whether it is a hazard to become a major sinkhole.
A small army of trucks, rigs, and emergency personnel was on hand to ensure public safety.
