A sinkhole in Highland City has caused a worrisome past few days for many neighbors on Royal Crest Drive. They are getting some relief on Tuesday.
The Austins went back home to watch as crews filled the giant sinkhole in their front yard.
They just moved to this home on Royal Crest Drive and have been displaced due to this neighborhood natural disaster.
The Clantons have lived there 43 years and said they’ve never seen anything like it.
“Of course, the first thought is ‘My gosh it’s happened,” Neighbor Scott Clanton said. “Is it going to get bigger?”
The hole was 15 feet wide and 60 feet deep on Saturday.
It was about 30 feet wide right before crews started filling the hole with sand Tuesday morning.
Polk County Emergency Management Director Paul Womble said the hole’s surface doubled in size over the last few days.
“We know the perimeter at the surface changed yesterday. It got bigger yesterday,” Womble said. “But it hasn’t changed since I left here last night so that’s a good sign.”
The county is covering the repair and mitigation because the sinkhole seeps into the county’s property.
”Getting it filled is the first step,” Womble said. “Hopefully [there will be] no other work or [we’ll] figure out what else needs to be done.”
Everyone is hoping this is the solution they’ve been waiting for, for the Austin family.
“So hopefully it will stabilize and they’ll be able to get back and get about their business,” the Clantons said.
Officials will monitor the hole once it’s filled. We’re told it could take a couple of days to fill this sinkhole. Polk County Emergency Management asks drivers to avoid Royal Crest Drive if they can.