9-Foot Sinkhole Causing Controversy in Springtown
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: March 20, 2013
SPRINGTOWN, AR -- A newly formed nine-foot hole in the ground is causing controversy in the City of Springtown.
The city recently completed a new bridge in the area, which is home to a fragile cave system, and after a sinkhole opened in a nearby backyard, the property owners say road crews are responsible.
They say heavy machinery preparing a nearby road for paving shook the ground loose, but Benton County Judge Bob Clinard disagrees.
"I went out and looked at it, and it's about 150 yards off the road, it's behind their house," Clinard says. "I guess anything is possible, but it's not probable that our equipment caused it."
A geologist's report suggests filling the sinkhole with gravel to level out the area.
The city recently completed a new bridge in the area, which is home to a fragile cave system, and after a sinkhole opened in a nearby backyard, the property owners say road crews are responsible.
They say heavy machinery preparing a nearby road for paving shook the ground loose, but Benton County Judge Bob Clinard disagrees.
"I went out and looked at it, and it's about 150 yards off the road, it's behind their house," Clinard says. "I guess anything is possible, but it's not probable that our equipment caused it."
A geologist's report suggests filling the sinkhole with gravel to level out the area.
