A large sinkhole opened in the westbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway in Melville on Thursday, shutting down the right and center lanes at Exit 49N and turning the evening drive into a slow-motion slog. Suffolk County police said one vehicle partially dropped into the opening, but no injuries were reported. The hole is roughly 10 feet across and eight feet deep, and authorities warned that the closures could remain in place for at least a day.
Suffolk County police told CBS New York that the pavement gave way beneath the right and center westbound lanes near Exit 49N and that one car "partially entered" the hole. According to the same report, the opening measures about 10 feet wide and eight feet deep, and police expected the closures to last at least a day while crews assess the damage. Drivers were urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
Why sinkholes form
Sinkholes form when materials beneath the surface are removed or dissolve, creating underground voids that can suddenly collapse and take chunks of roadway or yards with them. The U.S. Geological Survey explains that causes can range from natural rock dissolution to human-related triggers such as broken water mains, changing drainage patterns and groundwater pumping. Officials have not yet identified the specific trigger behind the Melville collapse.
Local history
Long Island has dealt with this kind of sudden ground failure before. Local reporting documented a large backyard sinkhole in West Hempstead in 2023, a reminder of how quickly the earth can give way and how many potential causes investigators need to sort through. Determining what happened typically requires geotechnical inspection of the pavement and the soils underneath.
Commute impact and updates
Suffolk County police told CBS New York that the LIE lane closures would last at least a day, and motorists were urged to plan alternate routes. For real-time travel information, drivers can check 511NY and official county channels for detours and updates. County and state transportation crews are expected to assess the pavement and drainage before repair work begins.
Officials had not released a cause as of Thursday evening; for official updates, follow the Suffolk County Police Department or check local traffic feeds. The department's site is available at Suffolk County Police Department.
