City officials are awaiting the findings of a recent video survey under Commercial Street following the development of a sinkhole in the 900 block of Commercial this past weekend.
According to City Engineer Jim Ubert, who spoke with KVOE News late Tuesday afternoon, a camera device was run under the street segment Tuesday morning to gauge the extent of the damage. He says results from those efforts have not been reported back to the city as of Tuesday afternoon and it is a critical piece of information to have before the city can move forward with repairs.
He told KVOE News, “We want the complete picture before we jump,” adding, “It doesn’t make sense to get work started on this if there are other immediate needs…” The 900 block of Commercial will remain closed until further notice, meaning the heavy truck detour involving Merchant from Sixth to 12th also remains in place until the blockage is lifted.
Late Monday, Assistant Public Works Director Jeff Meek confirmed a box surrounding a 44-inch storm sewer line pushed in and failed, setting the stage for the area under the street to fail and give way either late Saturday night or early Sunday. Ubert says the pipe was installed at some point between 1900 and 1920, and there is no word on how long any leakage may have been ongoing before this past weekend. There is also no word on whether any other underground infrastructure may have been affected. There is a 10-inch waterline and an abandoned waterline near the sinkhole.
Emporia Police Capt. Ray Mattas says a police SUV may have inadvertently revealed the sinkhole over the weekend. An officer was using the Carlos Liquor drive-thru space to turn around, and the vehicle sank into the space as he tried to drive onto Commercial Street. The officer was not hurt. The SUV was towed with unlisted damage.
Ubert will join KVOE’s 8:05 am newscast with another update Wednesday morning.
Noon Tuesday: Video work ahead as city determines extent of damage, repair plans for downtown sinkhole area
City officials are considering ways to determine the extent of subgrade damage near a sinkhole in downtown Emporia.
City Engineer Jim Ubert says the general plan includes using video to determine any damage near the sinkhole at the southeast corner of 10th and Commercial, but specifics remain under discussion. No physical work is planned at the site Tuesday after excavation work happened Monday.
Late Monday, Assistant Public Works Director Jeff Meek confirmed a box surrounding a 44-inch storm sewer line pushed in and failed, setting the stage for the area under the street to fail and give way either late Saturday night or early Sunday. Ubert says the pipe was installed at some point between 1900 and 1920, and there is no word on how long any leakage may have been ongoing before this past weekend. There is also no word on whether any other underground infrastructure may have been affected. There is a 10-inch waterline and an abandoned waterline near the sinkhole.
Emporia Police Capt. Ray Mattas says a police SUV may have inadvertently revealed the sinkhole over the weekend. An officer was using the Carlos Liquor drive-thru space to turn around, and the vehicle sank into the space as he tried to drive onto Commercial Street. The officer was not hurt. The SUV was towed with unlisted damage.
The 900 block of Commercial remains closed until further notice, meaning the heavy truck detour involving Merchant from Sixth to 12th is also in place until the Commercial Street blockage is lifted.
Ubert will join KVOE’s 8:05 am newscast Wednesday with an update.
