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20-Foot Brooklyn Sinkhole to Close Streets for Months

By DNAinfo Staff | August 19, 2015 3:46pm
 Construction work at 5th Avenue and 64th Street on Wednesday, August 19, 2015, two weeks after a huge sinkhole opened up at the intersection.
Construction work at 5th Avenue and 64th Street on Wednesday, August 19, 2015, two weeks after a huge sinkhole opened up at the intersection.
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DNAinfo/Staff

SUNSET PARK - A massive sinkhole that opened up in the middle of a Brooklyn street two weeks ago will close 5th Avenue to normal traffic through the middle of November, according to notices the construction contractor posted in the area. 

But the street closures weren't clearly marked, according to residents and a City Hall staffer, leading to confusion for drivers and pedestrians.

"I'm red with fury over this construction," said Dennis Pascale, who lives on the corner where the hole opened up and said that he'd repeatedly called 311 to report sinkings there over the years.

The 20-foot-deep, 20-foot-wide hole opened up at 64th Street and 5th Avenue on Aug. 4. It was caused by a broken water main that swept away soil underneath the street, according to David Estrada, the chief of staff for Councilman Carlos Menchaca.

Fifth Avenue will be closed from 63rd to 65th streets, along with 64th Street at 5th Avenue, through Nov. 13, according to the street closure sign posted by contractor John P. Picone, Inc., which is repairing the damage. Only rush-hour buses will be allowed through, according to Estrada. 

Estrada was unable to confirm the dates listed on the signposts, saying only that the street closures will last a long time, and that the closure's end date will be determined as the work progresses. Messages for the contractor and the Department of Environmental Protection were not returned Wednesday.

While the street closure signs state the project was for emergency sewer work, Estrada said the sinkhole was caused by a leaking water main, and that there has been no intermixing of sewage and tap water.

"We're really upset that the construction zone was established blocking off street and avenue access without any signage that tells anyone what’s going on," Estrada said.

Neighbors said that while they're relieved no one was hurt when the gaping hole broke open, the near-constant construction is loud and street closures are inconvenient. Pascale called the sinkhole a city boondoggle.

"The city dropped the ball big time about this and now the residents are paying the price," Pascale said.

He says fumes from gas generators were getting into his apartment building, where children live. He and other neighbors complained that construction workers were taking up many of the parking spots on 64th Street and parking at fire hydrants. Also, there is no pedestrian access to 5th Avenue from 64th Street, though you wouldn't know it when walking down the block.

"They've got every right to be livid," Estrada said. He said he's meeting with the contractors to ensure more visible signs indicate where the closures are. 

"Every effort will be made to complete work in a timely manner and with the least impact to the surrounding area," states a street closure notification signed by Tom Lapadula, who was listed as an emergency contact. He did not return a message Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, a backhoe was digging into the intersection and the ring of a pile driver could be heard from nearby streets. Resident Kevin Hennessy, who lives about 100 feet from the hole, said driving began at 9:30 p.m. one recent Saturday night, causing his floors to vibrate.

"They have extensive work to do," said Jeremy Laufer, district manager of Brooklyn's Community Board 7.

He noted that this sinkhole isn't unprecedented – one on 43rd Street between 2nd and 3rd avenues took three months to fix – and that residents did the right thing by reporting even small holes to the city. 

A sewer and water main reconstruction project along 5th Avenue that reached Bay Ridge and further north in Sunset Park was put on hold for this part of the street in 1988, and is only expected to recommence in 2022, according to Laufer. 

"Our infrastructure was outdated in the '80s but we are still using it today," Laufer said.

The day after the Sunset Park sinkhole opened up, Laufer noted, a water main broke about 10 blocks down 5th Avenue, but he couldn't say if they were connected.

Estrada wasn't aware of the 5th Avenue reconstruction project, but he did say it's very complicated to bring upgrades to Sunset Park. "Sunset Park has this combination of extreme density, high use, aging infrastructure and in my opinion, neglect when in comes to being prioritized for improvements," Estrada said.