More repairs required at site of large sinkhole

Published 1:11 pm Monday, October 26, 2020

Crews with the county’s road department were back at the scene Monday of a large sinkhole that first developed Friday at the intersection of Culkin and Mount Alban roads.

According to County Engineer Keith O’Keefe, the hole, which was estimated to be 6 feet deep, at least 6 feet wide and 10 feet long, was the result of a leaking 4-inch water line underneath the road.

“Over time, it created a cavern underneath the roadway. We are lucky this wasn’t worse than it was,” O’Keefe said Monday during a work session of the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

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Culkin Water District, who is responsible for the line that caused the problem, repaired the line and then backfilled the hole Friday. But, heavy rains Friday caused the material to further settle, causing another problem.

O’Keefe said he and County Road Manager Jaime Cain were at the location Saturday and put together a plan where the county would make the needed repairs.

“At this point, with it being such a large area, I just feel better with our county road department making the repairs,” O’Keefe said.

Initially, the county crews will again backfill the site up to the final few inches, which will then be filled with crushed stone. O’Keefe said crews would then allow the site to settle for a few weeks before coming back and putting down asphalt.

County leaders said they would have a better idea of just how much the repairs cost before seeking reimbursement from the Culkin Water District.

About Tim Reeves

Tim Reeves, and his wife Stephanie, are the parents of three children, Sarah Cameron, Clayton and Fin, who all attend school in the Vicksburg Warren School District. The family are members of First Baptist Church Vicksburg. Tim is involved in a number of civic and volunteer organizations including the United Way of West Central Mississippi and serves on the City of Vicksburg's Riverfront Redevelopment Committee.

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