KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After a portion of a Midtown road collapsed Monday morning, the Kansas City, Missouri, Water Services Department now estimates repairs will last through the end of the week.
Initially, KC Water was optimistic it would take two days to complete the project. But on Wednesday afternoon, crews still had their work cut out for them repairing the sinkhole at Gillham Road near Armour Boulevard.
"It started off as a small hole, and it's now very large," said Chris Southard, who works near the sinkhole.
The sinkhole, originally 20 feet deep, has grown in size. Kissick Construction, the company handling repairs at the site, expanded the hole to shore it up and make it for safe for workers.
According to KC Water, there are several stages to the project, beginning with the replacement of the massive 60-inch combination main that busted early Monday morning.
Jeff Pierce, KC Water utility superintendent, said crews will repair the 60-inch main first and begin backfilling. Then, they plan to replace the 10-inch sewer and water mains, which also broke.
The closure of the major thoroughfare has inconvenienced some in the area. Sarah Scoggin, a Midtown resident, said she was surprised to come across the gaping sinkhole.
"We were trying to get to (U.S.) 71 and we had to go all the way up and over," Scoggin said. "The road was closed and we're like, 'oh, you know, they're probably working on water or something.' Nope, huge hole."
But at Mother Earth Coffee across the street from the site, employees told 41 Action News the massive crater hasn't slowed down business.
"Overall, it hasn’t really affected business at all. People have been coming in and out," said Katlin Spoon, a barista at the coffee shop. "We have two different entrances and exits so people can come either way, and it’s been good business."
The employees said they also appreciate the crews who are working hard on the roadway.
"They’ve been working tirelessly 24/7 to get it fixed, so we’re very happy about that," Spoon said.
KC Water said it now hopes to have the road repaired by the weekend.
"We are pushing hard to get everything done by this weekend, talking full restoration to the street," Pierce said.
KC Water also said it has restored water service to two nearby apartment buildings that were impacted by the sinkhole.
Gillham Road remains closed between East 36th Street and Armour Boulevard while repairs continue.
