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Sinkhole in Hickory shuts down major roadway

By Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com
By Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com

HICKORY, N.C. — A busy road will be shut down for weeks because of a massive sinkhole.

Crews said the skinhole started from an old storm pipe under the Highway 127.

[IMAGES: Sinkhole in Hickory shuts down major roadway]

Many of the residents said it couldn't have happened in a worse place along the highway, right next to the main fire department.

State Department of Transportation workers begin digging around the sinkhole along Highway 127 in Hickory. Traffic in both directions was shut down after a culvert for storm water runoff failed.

Two women who work nearby had a tough time getting to their jobs Wednesday morning.

"I was about 10 minutes late so it was a little bit of a headache. I'll leave earlier tomorrow, definitely," Becky Klutz said.

"It is going to be a pain," Charlene Beaver said.

By mid-morning, a crew placed a small camera into some of the storm drains hoping to learn the extent of the damage. They checked the line for any signs of weakening or failure.

The sinkhole is approximately 10 feet deep, located not far from the main firehouse in Hickory.

Because of the road closure, firefighters are looking at ways to get to calls and keep delays to a minimum.

"We can go different ways. Our response time may be affected just by a minute or so.  But we also have outlying stations we can call in," Hickory fire battalion Chief Mike Cates.

The DOT said it's difficult to tell how long it will take to make repairs, because they don't know all the damage.

At this point, DOT officials said it will be several weeks before they get the highway reopened.

“This repair will not happen quickly, and we appreciate the public's patience during this repair,” said Interim Public Services Director Kevin Greer. “NCDOT will work to create as convenient a detour as possible, but of course, it is advisable to alter your commute to avoid the area.”

The following detours are in place for motorists:

N.C. 127 South: Follow to Second Avenue northeast. Turn left to Main Avenue northeast, which turns into Eighth Street northeast. Turn left to Seventh Avenue northeast and follow to Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard, Turn right to First Avenue northeast, back to N.C. 127 South.

N.C. 127 North: Turn left on Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard, then left to Seventh Avenue northeast. Turn left to Eighth Street northeast, which turns into Main Avenue northeast. Follow to Second Avenue southeast, then turn right to Third Avenue northeast. Stay left to remain on Third Avenue, then turn right to N.C. 127 North.

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