FAYETTEVILLE – The outside (right) lanes of Morganton Road reopened this afternoon as state transportation crews get closer to completing emergency repairs to a sinkhole.
The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to reclose the road in both directions near Skye Drive on Monday morning to complete repairs and repave the affected area. The department's goal is to reopen all five lanes by Monday afternoon.
A sinkhole that grew to 8 feet long and 5 feet deep formed earlier this week in the middle of Morganton Road. The NCDOT closed that section of the road Tuesday afternoon to begin immediate repairs, which have included excavating a hole and constructing a 12-foot-by-12-foot concrete box to house two pipes underneath the road.
Soil erosion is the likely cause of the sinkhole. The newly fashioned concrete box that will fit underneath the road is expected to prevent future erosion.
The NCDOT relied mostly on its own employees to fix the sinkhole, spending about $25,000 on materials.
When the road recloses Monday, detour signs will guide other drivers to use North Churchill Drive, Fort Bragg Road and Devers Street.