ATLANTA — Repairs are ongoing in Atlanta’s Summerhill neighborhood after a massive sinkhole opened up over the weekend.
Summerhill resident Chris Jacko told Channel 2’s Brittany Kleinpeter he was among the first to come across the gaping hole along Georgia Avenue Saturday.
“I was probably 20 feet away, and you could see straight down into it,” Jacko said. “It was really wide. The pavement had completely caved in. All the asphalt was gone, and so was the dirt underneath.”
Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management says crews responded quickly and discovered a damaged clay sewer pipe nearly 18 feet below the surface between Connally and Ami streets SE.
“Knowing it was 18 feet underground and still managed to take out an entire road is disconcerting, especially when I drive this street every day,” Jacko said.
City officials say Georgia Avenue will remain closed while crews fill the void and repave the road, creating a whole lot of disruption for nearby residents.
“This is a major artery for our neighborhood,” Jacko said. “It connects us to Grant Park and I-20, so it’s definitely going to be an inconvenience.”
Detours are in place.
Motorists traveling east on Georgia Avenue SE should turn right onto Martin Street SE, turn left onto Little Street SE, turn left onto Grant Terrace Street SE, then turn right back onto Georgia Avenue SE.
Motorists traveling west on Georgia Avenue SE should turn right onto Georgia Terrace SE, turn left onto Cherokee Place SE, turn right onto Connally Street SE, turn left onto Crumley Street SE, turn left onto Martin Street SE, then turn right back onto Georgia Avenue SE.
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