Drivers heading into downtown St. Louis may have to rethink their route after a massive sinkhole opened beneath Interstate 44 over the weekend.
The gaping hole exposed a bridge footing and forced I-44 to close in both directions between the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge and the Poplar Street Bridge. The closure will remain in place until at least next weekend while crews evaluate the damage and determine a repair plan.
A 20-inch water main began leaking late Friday at the intersection of Broadway and Biddle Street. The break affected two other water mains. Water flowing from the pipes caused the surrounding ground to cave in, leading to the large sinkhole.
Deputy Commissioner of Water Spencer Gould said city crews responded immediately to stop the water flow and ensure the area was safe for workers to enter.
“Our crews are working around the clock and will continue to work around the clock since Friday and into the future in order to minimize this impact and respond quickly,” Gould said.
City officials said the Missouri Department of Natural Resources inspected the site and determined the sinkhole was caused by broken water mains, assuring residents of the “Cave State” that it was not caused by a natural cave collapse or deeper underground shift.
Mayor Cara Spencer said the cave-in highlights the city’s aging infrastructure. During a Sunday news conference at St. Louis City Hall, she voiced support for a major water bill coming before the Board of Aldermen Thursday.
“These lines were over 100 years old, and we have been replacing lines at a much slower rate than we need to – for decades, and so you’re seeing decades of deferred maintenance,” Spencer said.
Missouri Department of Transportation Area Engineer Jen Wade said the column supporting the interstate is in good condition despite the dramatic opening.
“We are working with the city’s contractor on shoring up the area around this column, so the rest of the repair work can be done while the interstate is open to traffic,” Wade said.
Photo by Maria Keena / KMOX NEWS
