Workers for West Virginia American Water inspect a sinkhole that developed at the intersection of Florida Street and Third Avenue on Charleston’s West Side on Monday morning.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Officials for West Virginia American Water weren’t sure Monday how long the intersection at Florida Street and Third Avenue would be closed, after a sinkhole opened at the intersection on Charleston’s West Side.
Water company spokeswoman Laura Jordan said a large sinkhole opened up at the intersection about 10 a.m. Monday. She said water officials detected a leak underneath the intersection about a month ago using a new leak detection system, but had not yet made a plan to fix the leak.
Jordan said the leak could be in any one of three water lines in the area, including a 36-inch main water line. Water company crews had been reluctant to dig in the area until they figure out exactly which line is leaking.
Repair crews had placed steel plates over the intersection as a temporary patch. Jordan said water company crews were on site monitoring the intersection on Monday when the section of roadway collapsed.
Jordan said the intersection will be closed until repair crews can bring in heavy equipment to fix the roadway and find the leak…
