Hillsborough County Florida is using a mix of expanding polyurethane foam and conventional cement grout as a more cost effective means of filling sinkholes. Officials say the mix uses 30 to 40% less grout adding up to a 30% cost savings. The article in the Tampa Tribune did not indicate the contractor or product name that they are using but apparently several agencies in California and other states are using the same material. Story via ASCE SmartBrief.
Geologic Hazards
Video: Bayou Corne Sinkhole Swallows Trees
The Bayou Corne Sinkhole was formed near Baton Rouge Louisiana last September, likely as a result of the failure of salt caverns below. This video shows a stand of trees being swallowed by the sinkhole […]
Failures
Johannasburg Sinkhole Opens after Tunnel Collapse
A 12m long sinkhole opened up on Oxford Road in northern Johannesburg South Africa after a partial tunnel collapse in the Gautrain rail tunnel being constructed underneath the road. Eyewitness accounts say there was a broken water pipe flooding the sinkhole, but no word on which occurred first. The road is expected to be closed for 2 weeks. Gautrain representatives said the tunneling would resume after geotechnical/geological investigations into the collapse are completed, which could take "several weeks". (Photo credit: Werner Beukes, Sapa via News24.com)
Via The Star (Zambia) and News24.com (Johannesburg?)
Geologic Hazards
Sinkhole in Florida opens overnight, swallows and kills man
This is a horrible and tragic story. A sinkhole opened overnight on Thursday of last week underneath the bedroom of 36 year-old Jeff Bush in Hillsborough County, Florida. The man was swallowed by the sinkhole, […]