Detroit Sinkhole
Aug 23, 2004

Sinkhole Area Still Unstable

A giant sinkhole in Sterling Heights grew even bigger late Monday morning as repair crews worked to stabilize the ground surrounding it. The sinkhole opened up on 15 Mile near Hayes over the weekend. At noon Monday, the hole measured approximately 160 feet long and 60 feet wide. The cavity was estimated to be as deep as 30 feet, and Detroit Water and Sewerage crews worried that it was still moving eastward along 15 Mile. Detroit Water and Sewerage head Victor Mercado told 7 Action News midday of plans to inject the ground near the site with cement to stabilize the soil. Meanwhile, pump trucks made sure sewers farther down the street were not blocked by any shifting sand caused by the collapse of the 11-foot sewer pipes. The Detroit Water Department planned to call in surveyors to see whether the sinkhole caused any shifting of any of the homes in the nearby Villa Fontana subdivision. Mercado did add, however, that the homes were not yet out of danger. He said he has seen situations where entire homes have been washed away. It was not clear when the families would be allowed back into their homes. Crews could not say what caused the sinkhole, and said that they did not know whether erosion spotted on the site had been ongoing.