Massive hole closes interstate through downtown St. Louis
STLPR • • nation
Key Points:
- A massive cave-in caused by a 20-inch water main break has forced the closure of parts of Interstates 70 and 44 near downtown St. Louis, specifically at Broadway and Biddle streets.
- The resulting sinkhole measures about 30 feet in diameter and 15 feet deep, large enough to fit a small city bus, and has damaged additional smaller water mains beneath an elevated section of the highway.
- Authorities, including the St. Louis Metropolitan Police and Missouri Department of Transportation, have closed eastbound I-70 at Tucker and I-44, redirecting traffic to the Poplar Street Bridge until repairs are completed.
- Efforts to isolate the water main break are ongoing but complicated by infrastructure challenges, leading to some customers experiencing water service loss, with water still actively flowing into the cavern as of Saturday afternoon.
- St. Louis has a history of significant cave-ins and sinkholes, with recent incidents impacting roadways and infrastructure, highlighting ongoing challenges with underground stability in the area.