By PAUL KIRBY
Freeman staff
pkirby@freemanonline.com; twitter.com/PaulatFreeman

KINGSTON, N.Y. — The city engineer says an expanding sinkhole on Washington Avenue is threatening underground pipes — including gas, water and sewer lines — and could cost a million dollars to repair.

Ralph Swenson told members of the Common Council’s Finance/Economic Development Committee on Wednesday that the sinkhole on Washington Avenue at Linderman Avenue, which opened in April, could wind up causing significant damage to the pipes.

Already, Swenson said, a water pipe in the area has sustained some damage and needs repair.

During an interview following the meeting, Swenson described the situation as a “managed threat” but said repairs to a tunnel beneath the road need to made soon.

“Time is of the essence,” he said.

Swenson said repairs to halt the expansion of the sinkhole — which would include relining 160 feet of the underground tunnel and creating a piping system to better manage water flow from the nearby Tannery Brook — could wind up costing $1 million.

Common Council President James Noble, a plumber by trade, said the cost probably will be even higher.

Swenson said he will have more definitive cost estimates in time for the Finance/Economic Development Committee’s next meeting, in June.

Some temporary repairs and studies already have cost $250,000.

This is the second time in about a year that a sinkhole has opened in the same spot, forcing traffic to be detoured around it. Continued...

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Washington Avenue is closed to all but local traffic and delivery vehicles from Linderman Avenue to the Boulevard (Route 32).

Swenson on Wednesday was unsure how long the closure would remain in effect but said it would be “and extended” period.

Swenson said the city’s Office of Economic Development is seeking federal grants to help pay for any future work that needs to be done at the site.

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