Massive sinkhole shuts down busy northwest Atlanta road

ATLANTA — Crews are working right now to fix a broken water main on a busy road in northwest Atlanta.
           
Channel 2's Sophia Choi saw crews trying to make repairs overnight on Collier Drive.
 
The main break has caused all kinds of problems on Collier Drive, which is closed between Valley Heart Drive and Chalmers Drive.
 
The water from that broken pipe flooded Collier Drive and caused a sinkhole which is at least 5 feet deep and 12 feet wide.
 
Before crews could fix the 16-inch cast iron pipe, Georgia Power had to fix a leaning pole. It took four hours for that to happen. Georgia Power is using a specially equipped truck to hold up the pole, while city crews try to fix the water main.
 
"We're probably looking at late this afternoon before anything is completed. It'll probably take us about two or three hours to fix the pipe. To get the road completed, (it will) probably (take) about another four or five hours," said Scheree Rawles of the Atlanta Department of Watershed.
 
Choi found out about the water main break when a Channel 2 Action News viewer sent video from Sunday.
 
Now Collier Drive looks more like a river with water gushing down the road from the broken pipe. The water caused the road to buckle in several areas.
 
Crews emphasize it's going to take pretty much all day to get the road safe enough to open.
 
Choi has been speaking with neighbors about the mess, including a 98-year-old man who's lived on this street for 56 years.
 
Hear what he has to say on Channel 2 Action News at 4.

WSBTV