Sinkhole found beneath Race Street in Parkersburg
A water leak Sunday resulted in the discovery of this sinkhole at 17th and Race streets in Parkersburg. City officials say it is about three feet deep and extends 47 feet beneath Race Street. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
A water leak Sunday resulted in the discovery of this sinkhole at 17th and Race streets in Parkersburg. City officials say it is about three feet deep and extends 47 feet beneath Race Street. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
A water leak Sunday resulted in the discovery of this sinkhole at 17th and Race streets in Parkersburg. City officials say it is about three feet deep and extends 47 feet beneath Race Street. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
A water leak Sunday resulted in the discovery of this sinkhole at 17th and Race streets in Parkersburg. City officials say it is about three feet deep and extends 47 feet beneath Race Street. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Trending
PARKERSBURG -- Workers repairing a water leak Sunday found a large sinkhole under Race Street.
Parkersburg Utility Board employees responding to the leak at Race Street's intersection with 17th Street "found a cavity along the storm sewer," PUB Manager Eric Bennett said Monday.
The PUB, which oversees the water and sanitary sewer systems in and around the city, was continuing to repair the leak Monday. Then they planned to hand the project off to the City of Parkersburg, which has responsibility for the storm sewers.
City Engineer Adam Stout said the sinkhole is about three feet deep but runs approximately 47 feet long beneath the road. It was likely the result of a previous repair to an inlet failing and leaking water hollowing out the area around the storm sewer over time, he said.
The affected portion of Race Street will probably be closed for about two weeks while repairs are made, Stout said. That's due in part to some Street Department trucks being equipped for salt spreading, he said.
"We're going to remove probably half the width of the street along that" 47 feet, Stout said.
The cavity will be filled in with gravel and concrete and graded about an inch-and-a-half below the normal level. The city cannot completely repave it until asphalt plants reopen in the spring.
"It won't be very smooth, but it'll be safe," Stout said.
Stout said the sinkhole is not a threat to any houses along Race Street.
"It's all located under the road," he said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.