By Staff    

Feb. 1, 2017:  A flurry of emails from Bronxville Chief Christopher Satriale to Bronxville residents is keeping them informed of the status of the sinkhole that appeared on Midland Avenue on Sunday, January 29, across from the elementary school parking lot at the entrance to Library Lane. 

The hole is close to the construction site where steel casings are being laid under Midland Avenue to house the pipes for the flood mitigation project on Hayes Field.

On Sunday morning, Chief Christopher Satriale sent the first email to Bronville Village residents, advising them that "Midland Avenue is closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic from Pondfield Road to Masterton Road until further notice." He asked residents to "please avoid the area."

Later in the day, a second email from the chief informed residents that Midland Avenue had been reopened with one lane of traffic in both directions. School parents, in particular, were advised that the "drop-off and pick-up traffic for area schools will be congested tomorrow morning (Monday)." He advised parents to "allow for extra time and avoid the area in proximity to the school, if possible."

A third email sent on Monday from the chief informed residents that the sinkhole had redeveloped: "A sinkhole has redeveloped as construction continues on the flood mitigation project on Midland Avenue. Effective immediately and until further notice, Midland Avenue is closed from Pondfield Road to Crows Nest Road." 

Then a fourth email on Tuesday morning advised residents that "Con Edison is in the process of installing valves on their gas lines beneath Midland Avenue to allow for the repair of the roadway. This installation of the valves will result in the odor of natural gas. . . . Con Edison has assured us that there is no cause for concern." 

When asked what may have caused the sinkhole, Village Administrator Jim Palmer explained that "the installation of steel casings [that will hold the pipes] and the excavation of the soil is disrupting what is below the surface." "We don't know entirely what's underneath there," he added.    

When asked how long it would take to repair the situation, Palmer said that they are already backfilling the area. He is meeting with engineers shortly to consider the soil conditions.  

Palmer did not think the incident would substantially slow down the expected completion date at the end of April. "We are already ahead of schedule, having moved to a 24-hour-a-day operation. . . . Lots of projects are going on simultaneously."  

Picture here:  The sinkhole on Midland Avenue at the entrance to Library Lane.  

Photo by staff