
Jul 20, 2008 5:14 pm US/Eastern
Sinkhole Caused By Timonium Water Main Break
TIMONIUM, Md. (WJZ) ―
A water main break in Baltimore County has created a major sinkhole near a busy intersection.
Mike Hellgren reports the sinkhole/water main break is at the intersection of Ridge and York Roads in Timonium. It delayed traffic, and several businesses were impacted by flooding.
It was a wet, messy Saturday for residents and business owners in Timonium. Repair crews had a long night.
They repaired the water main break, but not the large sinkhole it gouged out. However, dump trucks are currently on the scene to attempt to fix that problem. Officials say that the road will be repaved by Wednesday.
Thousands of gallons of water and tons of dirt poured down out of the sinkhole.
"Water was almost up to the bottom of my whole car. I had to get my car out of there earlier," said one man.
For a half dozen businesses, the day included fighting off water for hours.
"This has been going on for hours and hours. So we've been on the phone trying to get somebody to turn the water off to no avail," said Greg Pitarra, Bruno's Salon.
"We've got carpet, so it's kind of in the carpet. Maybe about an inch or two. Just a mess," said Shawn Wills, Mail Boxes Etc.
The water was shut down in the area of the break.
What caused the 12-inch line to give way around noon Saturday is unknown.
The water did slow later in the afternoon, but it was anything but business as usual. Water to three shopping centers along York Rd. was knocked out.
This isn't the first time the line has had a break. A DPW spokesperson says the line has failed a number of times during the past few years.
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