A sinkhole on a Jeffersontown roadway has become a major obstacle for nearby businesses.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A sinkhole on a Jeffersontown road has turned into a significant roadblock for surrounding businesses.
For months, the damage has forced drivers to take detours. Fred White, who owns a furniture store off Plantside Drive, said the prolonged closure is costing him more than just time.
“I really didn’t see a whole lot of progress after two months,” White said Thursday. “It’s really hurting.”
Just down the road from White’s shop, heavy rain in October caused the roadway to collapse within minutes. Severe flooding washed away the soil beneath the pavement, exposing a water pipe.
While drivers can detour around the area, White said the reduced traffic has severely impacted his business.
“Between Christmas and New Year’s, I usually get slammed and I plan for that,” White said. “Didn’t get slammed this year.”
At first, Jeffersontown Public Works estimated the repairs would take about two months, with crews working around the clock to restore the road. Jimmy Franconia, Jeffersontown’s public works director, said crews have worked “diligently,” including on weekends.
However, three months later, significant work remains, including reinstalling a gas line and laying new pavement.
“We just had a high expectation of getting it done quicker,” Franconia said. “The holidays hit.”
Franconia also cited several setbacks that delayed progress.
“We had some delays due to weather, and working in a blue line stream, the volume of water slowed some things down,” he said.
Officials now believe the road could be fully repaired by February, once LG&E completes work on the gas line.
“We hope that it’s a little sooner, but in construction, you never know what obstacles they will run into,” Franconia said.
White said he is eager for things to return to normal but remains skeptical.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” he said.
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