JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Work that was expected to take until the end of the week was completed overnight as JEA crews finished repairing a damaged sewer main after a cave-in on East Bay Street next to the Maxwell House facility.
Westbound lanes and one eastbound lane were closed until the area could be repaved, but the hole JEA had to dig to make repairs to the sewer main has been filled.
Equipment used to remove water and support a trench for worker safety has been taken away, and the team will now focus on finishing the filling and packing of the hole, taking down the remaining equipment, and getting ready for the asphalt crew, JEA said.
Drivers in the area were asked to slow down, take their time and follow all posted detours.
Westbound Bay Street traffic was detoured onto Lafayette Street and then to Adams Street. Eastbound traffic headed in the direction of EverBank Stadium was able to get through in the open lane, but drivers should plan for heavy traffic.
The road reopened around 2 p.m. once an inspection of a manhole and other infrastructure was completed, JEA said, adding that an asphalt patch has been laid and will require future resurfacing and rehabilitation.
An update by JEA on when that work is scheduled will be announced by the utility.
On Monday, JEA spokesperson Myers Vasquez told News4JAX that the utility first got a call about the cave-in around 9 p.m. Sunday.
Initially, the hole was about 3 feet in diameter, but as crews investigated, they realized they would need to dig out more of the street to make repairs.
“We’ll keep on at it until we can get this repaired as quickly as possible,” Vasquez said.