ST. LOUIS – Three separate sinkholes have emerged in the City of St. Louis this weekend, swallowing streets, damaging homes, and raising serious questions about what’s happening beneath our feet.
The most recent sinkhole, located at the intersection of Park and 14th Street, has swallowed part of the median and turning lane, leaving residents worried about further ground instability.
“We drove a few days ago. We drive on this road everyday pretty much and yeah it was pretty small and contained. And then there were cones around it I think they had marked off in some way. And then we drove by today and were shocked. It seemed like it tripled or more in size,” said Joseph Reznikov, a nearby resident.
Alderman Rasheen Aldridge explained that another sinkhole at Cass Avenue and 17th Street, which is 20 feet deep, was caused by a broken sewer pipe.
“I do know the one on Cass that has something to do with the sewer issue, and it sounds like a pipe has broken cause it’s an MSD thing,” said Aldridge. “And it sounds like after talking with the Mayor’s office MSD has to come out and go under and like it was a tunnel they had down there they have to repair.”
The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) is responsible for addressing the sewer-related issues linked to the sinkholes. Repairs on the Cass Avenue sinkhole are scheduled to begin Monday, but ongoing rain is hindering progress.
The area where the Cass Avenue sinkhole appeared has historical significance, as it is believed to be near the site of the Lafayette Brewery Cave, which may have tunnels running underground.
In addition to the sinkhole at Park and 14th Street, another sinkhole on Potomac has damaged a home’s foundation, steps, and front yard. A third sinkhole on Tholozan is filled with water and continues to expand. While the problems on Tholozan and Potomac are not linked to the public sewer system, MSD is collaborating with the city and homeowners to find solutions.
As repairs begin, residents remain concerned about the potential for more sinkholes and the impact of continued rain on the stability of the ground.
All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.