DPW HWYS Amy Rill assigned this issue to DPW HWYS Mayfield (east)

Cmp exposed installed orange fencing

Thank you for your quick response and helping secure the area.

There is also a smaller washout closer to road next to a small cinderblock retention wall. The corrugated metal pipe is also visible in that smaller (but possibly just as deep) hole. (This hole may be on county property as it is very close to the road).

Across the street I also saw that the dirt near the road over the drainage pipe is also washing out there. This may represent a near term risk to the road itself. There are also some cables or cable conduits that have been exposed (yellow in linked photos). I have added pictures of the smaller washout on my side of the street along with the larger washout across the street in this google photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/uVVi6j9N9QC8jZVK8 .

Thank you for submitting your request to the Howard County Department of Public Works. Our staff will investigate this issue and respond.

We will schedule for pipe video taping for pipe condition.

Thanks! I see you filled the 2 washouts closest to the road. Does the larger hold need to wait until the pipe is inspected?

We are going to have the pipe video inspected. I'm thinking the pipe is rusted out. If that is the case we will see if we can have the pipe relined instead of excavating. For now we will not fill the sink hole due to the same out come. If you have any questions you can contact me at (410) 313-5181

Thank you for the clarification. I really appreciate your responsiveness on this issues, especially as I am sure you have quite a few cases like this after the rainy summer that we have had. Do you have a approximate timeline for when that inspection might happen?

The gravel patch on the smaller hole near the cinder block wall has settled out (photos attached and in the photo album linked above). I suspect the first fill didn't go down all the way due to the shape of the hole rather than this indicating new washout- I don't think the rain was heavy enough yesterday and today.

Thanks again!

Almost 2 months after the initial report, and both sinkholes are growing. Do you have any update on when this might be addressed?

- The large sink hole is now probably more than 4ftx4ft, has reached the edge of the orange fence on one side, and is beyond the orange fence on the other. The soil on the opposite side of the drain pipe has now started to collapse. (Picture attached)
- The small sink hole closer to the sink has also expanded, probably twice what it was, though it appears that there is a lot more space empty underground, so there may be more collapse above ground.
- The washout across the street that was filled with large stones still looks fine.

More photos in https://photos.app.goo.gl/uVVi6j9N9QC8jZVK8

Do you have any update on when this will be addressed?

They have this issue assigned to a contractor but I have no timeline for repairs.

Now that the weather is warming up and rain is starting again, I am concerned that the already large sink hole is going to get worse. We have a daycare one one side of our property and families with small children on the other 2 sides. Even with the orange fence, I am concerned about this being an ongoing safety issue. Any update on a timeline for this repair?

This is becoming a growing safety concern. With small children on 3 sides of our yard, they frequently cross the property. One child nearly slipped into the sink hole this afternoon. The orange fence serves as a warning, but the child was outside the fence and her foot started to slip down in. This needs to be addressed asap to prevent injury. The hole started at 2x3 ft, and is now 9x6 ft, and as deep as a little bit below the bottom of the drainage pipe. The current status of the sinkhole: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1BNhvWByApv9T4U28 (notice how close the front of the hole is now to the fence)

Overall progression of sink holes since July: https://photos.app.goo.gl/uVVi6j9N9QC8jZVK8

Any update? Every time we have a strong rain storm the sink hole grows, we lose more of our lawn, and it continues to be a safety concern with children in the neighborhood.

I know this is in the works, but can the barriers around the sinkholes be replaced? the large sink hole has (again) extended past the old barrier, and the smaller sink hole no longer has barriers.