Whitefish Bay sinkhole cause determined, village provides update
Sinkhole in Whitefish Bay
WHITEFISH BAY, Wis. - A sinkhole in Whitefish Bay formed on Sunday after a deep storm sewer failed, the village said.
The sinkhole – which is about 20 feet deep, according to the village's department of public works – opened beneath a walking path at the border of Buckley Park and Big Bay Park. Village leaders said the failed sewer is estimated to be 90 years old, and up to 20% of the village drains through it.
"Because of how deep this actually occurred, it’s very specialized equipment and resources needed in order to resolve it at that level," said Matthew Collins, Whitefish Bay DPW director.
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The village will look at long-term solutions as work progresses. It could lead to temporary road closures and limitations on park access.
"Safety is our top priority at this stage, and measures are being taken to prevent backups while the storm sewer is compromised," the village said in a statement. "Additional security fencing will be installed to restrict access to the affected area. Construction teams are mobilizing to ensure sewer functionality and are operating in the abundance of caution to protect other critical utilities in close proximity to the area."
There is currently no timeline for when it could be fixed.