Work on SR 51 Sinkhole in Hart Co. Delayed

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Recent weather means the Georgia Department of Transportation is no longer expecting to finish the sinkhole repair project on State Route 51/Reed Creek Highway in Hart County by next week as planned.

Georgia DOT crews had hoped to continue building back the road last week, but rain showers in the area in recent weeks have saturated the fill dirt.

DOT Spokesperson Teri Pope said that dirt still has not dried out so they cannot not resume with the work as planned.

As a result, the October 13th completion date has been pushed back and Pope said that the DOT is not sure how much longer the project will take.

She said it all depends on the weather.

The sinkhole on State Route 51 near Hartwell opened up on May 6 after a giant metal culvert pipe, located some 40 feet below the road surface, deteriorated and collapsed.