Waukesha County salt dome collapse; structure 37 years old
Waukesha County salt dome collapse
WAUKESHA, Wis. - A salt dome at Highway Operations in Waukesha collapsed on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 23, officials said.
The collapse of the salt dome happened around 3:40 p.m. Tuesday. No one was inside or loading salt at the time of the collapse. The cause of the collapse itself is unknown.
Officials indicated the salt dome is 37 years old – and Waukesha County's oldest of three salt domes on the property at Woodburn Road.
Waukesha County salt dome collapse
Department of Public Works officials estimate about 1,600-2,300 tons of salt were in the dome – and there was snow on the roof from the recent snowfall. The structure was inspected last year by a contractor for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. DPW officials are hopeful to re-purpose and salvage the salt in the collapsed dome.
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Waukesha County salt dome collapse
Waukesha County officials say they have two other salt domes at Highway Operations with more than 15,000 tons of salt available – in addition to several other salt domes at substations throughout the county.