VIDALIA, La. (KNOE) – The Vidalia Police Department is cautioning residents about a currently developing sinkhole.
“It’s deteriorating further, so we’ve entirely blocked this intersection to prevent vehicles from using it since even minor vibrations can lead to additional chunks of asphalt collapsing,” stated Mayor Buz Craft of the Town of Vidalia.
Mayor Craft mentioned that the sinkhole is presently around 7-8 feet deep and has existed for approximately one week. He added that the repair costs might run into several million dollars.
“It will be quite costly to fix this issue. We must await the receding water levels since all underground infrastructure repairs require a completely dry environment,” stated Mayor Craft.
Mayor Craft said the supporting soil and material around the drain under the road eroded and caused the road to collapse, and repairs could take at least a month.
“It relies on Mother Nature and what the river permits us to accomplish as well as how swiftly it can become depleted. If it dries out and we experience weekly rainfall, it will be challenging to resolve,” stated Mayor Craft.
Mayor Craft stated that there could be another sinkhole developing further along the same street, and this area too has been cordoned off as a preventive measure.
“I’ve been monitoring that region for the past several years. It keeps sinking lower and lower, and you can observe that parts of the ground are beginning to collapse into the drainage system,” stated Mayor Craft.
The police department posted on social media advising people to steer clear of Concordia Avenue and Elm Street. Additionally, citizens were instructed not to enter neighboring properties to observe the sinkhole.
Authorities stated that individuals who break this directive will be issued a citation.
Currently, Concordia Avenue, from Elm Street to Murray Drive, is blocked off for all through traffic. Entry will be restricted to local residents only.
The Vidalia Police Department stated, “Given the forecasted rain, ensuring the safety of both the community and locals remains our top priority.”
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