Work Beginning To Fix Tom Lee Park Sinkhole

(Memphis) City Engineers are narrowing down the problems that created a sinkhole in Tom Lee Park.

Civil and structural engineers, soil experts, and public works crews gathered Friday at Tom Lee Park to develop a plan of attack.

It’s up to them to fix what led to a sinkhole about the size of a watermelon.

“For the last few days, we’ve had numerous experts doing these inspections to try to determine what would be the cause of this cavity. We’ve come up with a few ideas that we’re basically evaluating further at this time,” said Public Works Deputy Director, Robert Knecht.

He’s heading up the project and believes the sinkhole is likely the result of small cracks in the drainage system 30 feet below.

“The cracks that have formed are basically allowing some infiltration and by infiltration, I mean water is getting in from above through the soil surrounding it and when it does it carries soil with it sometimes and that’s why you have the cavity,” Knecht said.

But first, the U.S Corp of Engineers must approve the plan because the drains connect at the Mississippi River.

In the meantime, Knecht says the park is safe.

“There is no major threat to the public the whole area is not going to wash out or blow out. That’s not what we’re seeing,” said Knech. “What we’re seeing is some drainage issues below that we need to do some work on.”

Knecht says it’s unclear how long the it will take to make the repairs to the drainage.

He told News Channel 3 on Friday that sinkhole in the park will be filled in and secured by the end of the day.