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I took this shot this morning from what would be the center of the street!

There are probably as many theories as to why a Stellarton street has a hole big enough to swallow a bus as there are damaged pipes hanging into the cavity.

Subsidence into former coal mines, erosion by a stream that once ran through an underground mine and run-off from the open pit operation on the site of the old MacGregor mine at the edge of town are all blamed for the 12-metre hole filled with water in Foord Street.

Before a 1950 explosion, the 300-metre-deep Allan shaft occupied the site, and the whole area is honeycombed with old mine workings.

A deep pothole was first noticed early last Monday morning, when investigation
revealed a large cavity hidden by the pavement. Officials closed the street and dumped 100 tonnes of rock into the sinkhole. But the rock just disappeared and the hole got bigger, town works official Eddie Stewart said Sunday.

A concrete barrier placed to keep traffic away fell into the hole, breaking a large
sewer collection pipe. Then the ground collapsed, damaging a large water main and disconnecting a smaller one. Businesses and homes in the area were without water until 5 p.m. Friday.

As well, a fibre optic communications cable was destroyed and the traffic signal at the eastbound off-ramp from Highway 104 was damaged.
The ramp is now closed

Meanwhile, a depression between Foord Street and the highway has filled
with water, so fire trucks from Stellarton and neighbouring communities have
been pumping and ferrying away water all week. Pumps will be used this
week to remove the water through a temporary culvert rigged over a
useable part of the street.

"It’s not just a hole," Mr. Stewart said. "It’s a project."

An intense investigation is needed to determine the cause and extent
before it can be properly repaired, but everyone is co-operating to try
to solve the problem, he said.

Other suggested causes include the collapse of a ditch that carried hot
water from a power plant long ago and the degradation of old pipes
from mine settling ponds.

The surface flooding is likely due to a blocked culvert that carries water
under the highway. All the water eventually finds its way into the East River,
Mr. Stewart said. Asked about the length of time before repairs would be
completed, he replied, "We thought the end was in sight (last Monday),
but it fell in. We’re just lucky no one was hurt."

( mgraham@herald.ca)

Kryssy loves sunbathing. She also likes to keep a close eye on what we're doing when we're busy in the garden. Here we have hit the pond with first serious maintenance of the season. We need access all around the pond to get to the various pumps, pipes, cables, airstones and nets - so it's really convenient having a sun-loving greyhound parked in the middle of it all!