Watch CBS News

Water Main Break Repair Continues On Mulberry Street

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Department of Public Works Crews are working to fix a huge sink hole in downtown Baltimore.

A DPW inspector fell into the sink hole Monday, after the roadway on Mulberry Street between Greene and Paca gave way. That man's condition is not known.

Inspectors do not believe the hole will get any bigger, but they closed off a larger part of the road just to be safe.

And while people in the area want it patched up quickly, the process is just getting started.

"The water had been running for some time and eroded the earth under the road," said Baltimore City DPW spokesman Jeffrey Raymond. "That created a condition where the road could not support itself anymore."

The hole is 40 feet long, 50 feet wide and nearly 30 feet deep.

"Its already busy as it is and then just an unsupported road, probably needed some work a long time ago," motorist Jesus Abreu told WJZ.

Crews confirm, nearly three weeks ago, crews were working on these same water main lines, adding a 20-inch line and making small repairs to an 8-inch line.

That caused the ground to buckle, but they didn't see this coming.

Now the city is again forced to confront its aging infrastructure. This comes just two weeks after a massive main break on York Road.

Trinacria Foods is around the corner, and they say the closure is hurting business.

Residents of a nearby building have been relocated until water service is restored.

Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.