BATAVIA TOWNSHIP, MI (WTVB) – A spokesperson for MDOT says a irrigation failure led to the small sinkhole opening up on West Colon Road near Wheeler Road on Tuesday.
The sinkhole forced MDOT and the Branch County Road Commission to shut down M-86 between U.S. 12 and Wheeler Road until further notice.
Crews were trying to make repairs on Wednesday in hopes of opening up the well traveled road as soon as possible.
“Road Closed” signs have been put on a nearly two mile stretch of West Colon Road.
MDOT’s Greg Finnila says the irrigation failure was apparently caused by some sort of metal pipe casing which rusted out and leaked after it was installed under the road during the 1970’s.
Undersheriff Keith Eichler said on Tuesday the sinkhole was small but the dirt underneath the surface was gone.
Until the repairs are made, the Branch County Sheriff’s Office was asking people to don’t drive in the area of the sinkhole as the road is not safe for travel.
This morning at 8:30 am someone ran into the sign sending it to the middle of the road. At around 1:30pm another truck hit the sign and completely damaged it. Seems like road closed signs don’t mean much to drivers now a days.