Jason Futch
Reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
A sinkhole developed along U.S. Highway 90 East near Dowling Avenue in Live Oak late afternoon on Monday, Aug. 25, disrupting traffic until Tuesday morning, Aug. 26.
A substantial sinkhole opened on East U.S. Highway 90 in Live Oak on Monday afternoon, resulting in the road being closed off until Tuesday morning.
According to Live Oak Police Department (LOPD) Lt. Doug Hohman, the sinkhole developed at approximately 3:45 p.m. Hohman and other officers arrived with the City’s public works department and the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the initial depression on the road. Shortly after they arrived, the road began to cave in, which they captured on video.
The road was closed off until road crews from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) could assess the damage and make temporary repairs. Road crews from both FDOT and the City of Live Oak worked throughout the night to make the highway accessible. The crews filled in the hole and had a metal plate placed over it, allowing the road to reopen Tuesday morning, Aug. 26.
The cause of the sinkhole is still being investigated and will be reviewed by both City and FDOT officials for permanent repairs. Riverbend News attempted to reach out to City Public Works Director Jerald Lee, but was unable to make contact by press time.
Riverbend News will continue to monitor any developments which may arise as a result of the sinkhole.
Road crews with the Florida Department of Transportation and Live Oak Public Works Department worked throughout the night to make East U.S. Highway 90 accessible by Tuesday morning.