A sink hole is seen on Highway 6 near Chucky Mullins Drive. (DM Photo | Cady Herring)
A sinkhole caused by the separation of two segments of a subterranean drain emerged in the right lane of Highway 6 eastbound Wednesday morning, causing traffic delays.
Two sections of a 24-inch diameter drain separated, allowing moisture to accumulate underneath the asphalt and erode the highway section, Mississippi Department of Transportation public information officer Jason Scott said.
Until the concrete piping can be replaced, MDOT is rerouting traffic on Highway 6 Eastbound from approximately a quarter-mile west to a quarter-mile east of the sinkhole onto the right lane of Highway 6 westbound.
Though traffic on Highway 6 is open both directions, MDOT advised travelers to avoid the area until construction is complete.
The Oxford Police Department arrived at the scene and began directing traffic to the left shoulder of the road after receiving a tip about the sinkhole at around 8:30 a.m.
OPD Major of Operations Jeff McCutchen said the situation was still developing when officers and Lafayette County employees arrived.
“It actually spread just a little while we were out there, to the point where it took up a whole lane of traffic,” McCutchen said.
Freshman management information systems major Ashley Ramirez was delayed because traffic buildup on Highway 6.
“I was on my way to physical therapy and saw a bunch of traffic, police officers and just plain chaos,” Ramirez said. “It made me late, but was neat to see because I had never seen anything like it before. I hope they fix it soon so traffic will be back to flowing better.”
Scott said MDOT crews will work through the night until the repairs are complete.
“The thing about sinkholes is typically they happen really fast,” Scott said. “You can’t really prepare for a sinkhole like this. Yesterday, we had guys out there on the highway and there wasn’t even a small pothole there.”
