Finally! 92nd Street sinkhole filled in

October 11, 2012 Denise Romano
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After three months of snarled traffic, noxious fumes and deafening noise, the 92nd Street sinkhole has finally been filled in.

Construction workers smoothed the pavement over the 70-foot hole that formed on June 28, the evening of October 9, making the street open to traffic.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reported to Community Board 10 that officials are in the process of inspecting and analyzing the sewer line — which caused the sinkhole — that runs along 92nd Street from Fourth Avenue to Ridge Boulevard.

Although the sinkhole is repaired and the manhole is reconstructed, there still needs to be lining work done, which will be performed via manholes, so streets will not have to be ripped up again. During this process, specifically known as sewer guniting, the bypass and sewer pumps will remain in place, but complete roadway restoration will be underway once this work is finished and the bypass sewer is removed.

The DEP has also installed 16 carbon filters at the following locations: the northeast intersection of Shore Road and Ridge Boulevard; the northeast intersection of Shore Road and 94th Street; at Ridge Boulevard and Marine Avenue; two at the intersection of 92nd Street, Colonial Road and Marine Avenue; two at the southeast intersection of Shore Road and 92nd Street, as well as in the intersection itself; at Shore Road and Oliver Street; two at Shore Road and 91st Street; the northeast intersection of Marine Avenue and 94th Street; at Oliver Street and Marine Avenue; Colonial Road and 91st Street; at Shore Road and 93rd Street; and at 91st Street and Ridge Boulevard.

Fred Muoz, who lives across the street from the once gaping hole, was the first car to drive down the block since late June. “The street is finally open and very, very quiet this morning,” he said. “Believe it or not, there is a truck right back in the hole, but cars are passing. I am glad that 80 percent of the work has been done.”

Desiree, who is a Starbucks employee and is not permitted to give her last name, said that she is happy that the street is open, but still has to deal with equipment blocking the sidewalk adjacent to the shop.

“When I have to stock and bring out trash, even though the street is open, I can’t open and close the gate,” she explained. “We have had to breathe in these fumes. It’s generally been a negative experience for me. It doesn’t feel like it’s over.”

“Right now, it’s okay, but next week we won’t be able to park. They told us it won’t be completely fixed until the spring,” said Michael Deliso, a barista and manager at Paneantico Bakery and Café. “But at least it’s open for traffic, and cars can stop and come in and get some coffee. For now, it’s okay, people can eat outside again.”

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