Sinkhole opens up in West Philadelphia; cause under investigation
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A sinkhole about the size of a car opened up in West Philadelphia Wednesday morning. The hole is at 57th and Media Streets.
Chopper 3 was over the scene where 57th Street appeared to be blocked off with yellow tape.
The hole is about 20 feet wide and 10 feet deep. Neighbors say this section of the road was just fixed.
"Every time you drive past it you feel a little like it's about to cave in. So now I guess it just finally did," Iyana Stewart said.
Neighbors we spoke with say this road has been a problem in the past. But they thought the issues were solved when repairs were made not long ago.
"It's really terrible," Jackie said. "It's not even a month since that's been fixed."
Water officials confirmed their crews fixed a cracked valve in June. The Streets Department patched the road, but say there were no signs of issues then. They say this week's rain could have played a role.
"It can start with something as simple as a little hole in the street or a little crack by the sidewalk. What happens is you get that water rushing in there, and if there's somewhere for the water to go, it'll wash out the fill that's underneath the street," Brian Rademaekers, of the Philadelphia Water Department, said.
Crews are still investigating the cause of the collapse. So far, officials say they haven't found any issues with the water lines and have turned their attention to the sewer.
"We had someone down in there inspecting the sewer physically. In the sewer, we saw a lot of debris. There's a good chance that it's collapsed," Rademaekers said.
People in the area said they just want to see a permanent fix.
Water officials say they don't foresee any water and sewer issues for nearby residents while work continues on the hole.
Crews are expected to return Thursday to further investigate the sewer.
The stretch of 57th and Media Streets down to Frazier will remain closed as work continues.
If customers in the area experience issues with water services, they should report it immediately as an emergency by calling 215-685-6300.
