Tennessee sinkhole 2014: a 40 feet deep sinkhole opened up in university stadium

2015-05-12 39

A massive sinkhole opened up inside a stadium at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, following construction work.

According to USA Today, the sinkhole, discovered by construction workers weeks ago, was initially only 5 feet wide.

Once workers dug it out in search of stable rock, the hole turned out to be 30 to 50 feet wide and 40 feet deep.

There are many limestone caves in Montgomery County, and Austin Peay State University is specifically famous for sinkholes, Mike Jenkins, superintendent for Nashville-based Bell & Associates Construction was quoted by Leaf Chronicles as saying.

According to the Tennessean, there are several smaller sinkholes in the parking lot as well that crews will have to fix when they get to that part of the project.

Workers have started working on the sinkhole on Monday and expect to have the hole filled by the end of the week.

The work shouldn't affect the construction of the new stadium building, the Tennessean reported.

This animation also explains the causes of sinkholes formation.