Commuters on Chicago's South Side faced unexpected delays Monday morning, as a large sinkhole disrupted the flow of traffic and public transportation near 111th Street and Whipple Street. ABC 7 Chicago reported road closures in the area, while aerial footage captured by Chopper 7 revealed the extent of the cave-in, prompting city crews to cordon off the affected vicinity.
The impact of the road depression extended to the Chicago Transit Authority's operations, with the #113 Vincennes/111th Street buses being rerouted to skirt the site of the collapse. The specific extent of the disruption has yet to be determined, including how long road repairs might hinder the daily journey of many, according to ABC 7 Chicago.
Adding to the troubles, a water main break was identified as a potential source of the problem; this infrastructure, dating back to 1920, gave way early in the morning, said the Department of Water Management in a statement retrieved by NBC Chicago. The department was called to the scene around 1 a.m. with crews working throughout the day to restore service to the six affected properties, warning of water being shut off "all day until its repaired."
Closures on both directions of 111th Street from Albany to Sacramento Avenues were still in effect, as repair operations mounted, the Chicago Transit Authority also reported rerouting of their #112 Vincennes/111th buses due to the "street blockage near 111th and Whipple," a length of time to complete the necessary repairs to the road and water main has not been disclosed, although the department highlighted its commitment to working "at all practicable speed to finish the work," these complexities of the infrastructure woes are still developing and more updates are expected, according to NBC Chicago.
