Excavation work has started on downtown Emporia’s sinkhole.
Work started shortly after 8 am and could last into the mid-afternoon hours.
The reasons for why the sinkhole developed just south of 10th and Commercial this past weekend are currently unclear, but it developed either late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. There are no indications any underground utilities near the sinkhole were impacted, and there are several lines near that point — a 44-inch storm sewer, a 10-inch waterline and an abandoned waterline of unlisted diameter.
The 900 block of Commercial remains closed until further notice. Heavy trucks traffic is detouring to Merchant between Sixth and 12th.
