Representatives of the West Virginia Division of Highways now say the Star City sinkhole in the expanded parking area of the former Texas Roadhouse location is, in fact, within the DOH’s right-of-way.
Jennifer Dooley, with the West Virginia Department of Transportation Public Relations, said Deputy State Highway Engineer Joe Pack and DOH District 4 Manager Mike Daley came to that conclusion after going back “to review old plans and information.”
The Dominion Post reached out to the DOH about the sinkhole last week in light of an ongoing $4 million-to-$6 million project to address a sinkhole that collapsed last month in Hinton, Summers County.
The concern raised locally is that such an outcome here could potentially impact Monongahela Boulevard, a major artery in and out of the Morgantown area.
After initially saying the hole is not on DOH right-of-way and not considered an immediate threat, Dooley contacted The Dominion Post earlier this week to say it is on DOH property, and they’re looking into it.
“Engineers have walked the full length of the 93-inch diameter culvert from the beginning to the outlet at the Monongalia River and found nothing showing the sinkhole location,” Dooley said.
The corrugated metal pipe begins on the north side of Monongahela Boulevard (U.S. 19), travels beneath the roadway then turns west and outlets into the river.
Dooley said the state has also reached out to the Morgantown Utility Board.
While MUB General Manager Mike McNulty said the belief within the utility is that the hole has nothing to do with MUB, it has provided mapping at the request of the DOH.
Dooley said additional steps would be taken, including contacting West Virginia 811, to see what utilities may be present in the area before beginning any excavation.
“This is an ongoing exploration and more updates may be available as we work closely with others involved,” Dooley said.
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