By Carol Tannenhauser
“Sinkhole at 64 West 85th Street,” a reader texted West Side Rag on Tuesday morning.
The Rag reached out to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to find out what had happened and why, but their response was, “Do you have a photo you can share with us?”
Talk about breaking news.
Our reader estimates the sinkhole was four-and-a-half feet long on top, and nine feet long when you got close and looked inside. “The pavement is supported by nothing,” he reported.
Just about this time last July, two sinkholes opened up in the neighborhood, one swallowing two cars. This one appears to be taking up a parking space.
Water drainage and New York City’s aging infrastructure are commonly cited reasons for sinkholes. “It seems safe to say that the new multi-foot-deep depressions in New York are the result of the city’s deeply outdated underground infrastructure, whose average age is 66 years old,” wrote Architectural Digest. “It’s true: The once-innovative systems…that have kept New York running have become so fragile in their old age that they’re quite literally dying on us.”
We’ll update with a fuller explanation when we hear from DEP.
Update, 5:30 pm: the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sent us the following information about our reader’s sinkhole:
“The investigation for this location is ongoing. DEP is backfilling the collapse with asphalt to make it safe (temporarily) until the investigation can be completed.
“When a roadway collapse such as this occurs, DEP will respond to check all of its subsurface infrastructure – as well as the privately owned water/sewer pipes in the area.
“A leak on a water main, sewer or private water/sewer service line could wash away soil under the roadway and lead to a collapse of the asphalt.
“If DEP finds all of its infrastructure, as well as privately owned water/sewer lines, operating properly with no leaks, the location will be turned over to other utilities and/or to DOT.
“If a leak on a private pipe is found – DEP will issue an Order for the property owner to have a licensed plumber make the necessary repairs.
“If there is a leak on DEP infrastructure, repairs will be completed, new soil will be brought in to backfill the hole, and the roadway will be resurfaced.”
Thanks to Edward Timbers.
This year we’ve had them on 87th, 89th and now 85th, all on the CPW – Columbus stretch..
Obviously it’s something more extensive than unrelated one-offs.
And there was the one on 82nd (CPW and Col) that kept coming back. One reason is the hidden hydrology (read river) that runs underground across central park west and then north (81-85th) between CPW and Columbus . Many of the newer buildings have actually been built inside of what could be best described as a bathtub in order to prevent water from entering thought the foundation. But a lot of the older buildings have constant water problems as a result. That water erodes the sand under the streets.
Hence every real and qualified builder has a copy of the 150 year old (yes, really) “Vielle” map of all the streams, etc.
There was also one on 83rd that was at least a huge pothole — but the hole at the bottom of it always made me think it was a sinkhole in progress.
The problem is you have a lot of very old privately owned pipes in the area. Every 100+ year old brownstone has a water connection and a sewer connection that the typical homeowner ignores until they fail. Once they break they wash out the dirt holding up the pavement and it collapses. The city-owned pipes get checked for leaks periodically, the private pipes usually don’t.
The above West 85th St. sinkhole was fixed this afternoon!
“Just about this time last July, two sinkholes opened up in the neighborhood, one swallowing two cars. This one appears to be consuming a parking space…”
NOO0ooo!!! Not another lost parking space!!! Talk about value beyond belief. And lost to what… an underground river?!?
Say it ain’t so!
“Temporary” Means something different to DOT/DEP. They have been filling in the southbound lanes on B’way between 98/97 for years. Even before C19. There is also a 15x 10 sinkhole with water coming out of it on 97th between B’way and WEA. It caved in again last week and the water flow was increased. It has already been patched 3 times in the past year, all they did again with the 15×10 hole that was a foot deep, was to pour in cheap asphalt. Less than a week later hole is coming back, and water is coming out again
There’s a small one starting up at the NE corner of 89th and Broadway… 🙁