More Damage Discovered At Sinkhole Site In Red Bank

RED BANK, NJ — Officials say contractors will need at least one more day to repair the sinkhole at Spring and Wallace streets after more damage was discovered since work began last week.

The project is "very weather dependent," says Borough Manager James Gant, because the exposed soil needs to be dry in order to compact.

There was a newly discovered void under the road where the collapsed storm drain is being repaired, he said.

"Once the contractor opened the road, it was evident that the washout continued beyond the work area. Therefore, more excavation and material is needed to complete the job," Gant said Monday.

Both a damaged storm drain and a resultant sinkhole are being repaired at the intersection. Upon investigation by work crews, a larger scope of work was unearthed that will require more excavation and repair of the roadway, the borough said.

The emergency repair first came to light March 20 when the collapsed storm drain created the depression in the roadway.

The storm drain will require a replacement in that section of the older, 18-inch clay pipe and will require excavation, Gant said last week.

The new pipe will then need to be reconnected to the existing manhole in the middle of the intersection and connect to the inlet near Wallace Street, he said.

The road will then be backfilled and patched. Any road repair will have to be evaluated after 90 days for normal settlement of the sub-base, Gant said last week.

The total project, including mobilization, excavation, removal, repair, connection and backfill and asphalt was to have cost $36,705.14. The cost will be covered under a capital roads account that had existing funding, Gant said.

The roads were first closed last week when the depression in the roadway intersection was observed. You can read more in this past Patch article.