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.
