HIGHLAND CITY, Fla. — Crews in Polk County are working to fill a sinkhole that opened up in the front yard of a Highland City family’s home.
The hole was first spotted on Saturday and has since grown to an estimated 30 feet wide and at least 60 feet deep. Crews have had the area blocked off as they assessed the situation.
Heavy machinery and piles of sand were trucked in for the job as crews got to filling Tuesday afternoon. They will first fill the hole with sand and then clay. The road has been closed to just one lane for local traffic as work is underway.
Neighbors who spoke to 10 Tampa Bay say they are relieved to see the work being done.
“We are relieved to see that dirt coming in. All the neighbors are concerned and we are trying to keep an eye on everything,” said Sharon Stein, who lives next door and first saw the hole growing Saturday, notifying the homeowners.
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Polk County officials say the work should be done in two to three days, after which they will be monitoring the area “as necessary” and surveying to make sure the land is safe before the impacted family moves back in.
There’s no exact cause known for the sinkhole, with officials pointing to just a “Florida Phenomenon." Over the years, Polk County, near Lakeland has seen its fair share of sinkholes.