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Mid Hudson Times, Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Sinkhole found under Water Street
Street closed for repairs until end of week
By SHANTAL RILEY
[email protected]
The City of Newburgh closed a stretch
of Water Street after a large sinkhole was
discovered by city workers last week and
declared the roadway to be “at risk of
imminent collapse.”
The closed-off street section spans
Water Street from Fourth Street to
Washington Street. The city expects the
roadway to reopen by week’s end. In the
meantime, a detour has been set up directing traffic along Colden and Washington
streets.
“A large cavity was discovered with
dimensions of approximately six feet
high, five to 10 feet wide and 15 feet long
under Water Street,” said city Engineer
Jason Morris. “This underground cavity
leaves the roadway above unsupported
and subject to collapse.”
Barricades blocked traffic heading
south at Water Street and Fourth on
Saturday. A sign read “road closed” in
large letters. The area of the street behind
the barricade appeared to be freshly
paved over.
The city consulted with the state
Department of Transportation after
the sinkhole was found last Wednesday,
Morris said, “and it was determined that
the road should be closed to protect the
traveling public.”
Water Street was closed when city workers discovered an underground sinkhole last
Wednesday. The road is expected to reopen by the end of the week.
The city Department of Public Works
is currently conducting emergency work
at the site, including replacing “both the
collapsed manhole structure and the collapsed section of (sewer) outfall pipe,” he
said.
The underground cavity was found
while workers investigated a manhole
with a robotic camera, said Morris. It is
Change your batteries
Newburgh Fire Chief Michael Vatter issued his annual advisory on Friday – when you turn
y