Washington Heights Residents Concerned Over Growing Bennett Avenue Sinkhole

Growing Sinkhole on Bennett Avenue

• ⚠️ A massive sinkhole on Bennett Avenue in Washington Heights has become a significant concern for residents, reportedly growing for months.
• 🚗 The sinkhole is large enough to cause damage to vehicles and has been described as bringing traffic to a standstill.
• 🗣️ Residents have voiced their frustration, stating that temporary patches by the DOT have not fixed the underlying issue and have sometimes made it worse.

Resident Complaints and Official Response

• 📞 Residents have contacted both 311 and 911, and the Department of Transportation (DOT) has visited the site multiple times.
• 🛠️ Complaints suggest that DOT crews have only applied temporary patches, filling the hole without addressing the root cause.
• 🌧️ Concerns have been raised that the sinkhole worsens with rain, leading to speculation about potential sewer leaks or infrastructure damage beneath the street.

Investigation and Future Repairs

• 🔍 Following inquiries from Eyewitness News, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) dispatched a crew to inspect the sinkhole.
• 🏗️ A DEP spokesperson indicated that repairs will be made if any infrastructure damage is discovered below the street.
• 🧐 Residents remain anxious about the situation, with the sinkhole continuing to be a prominent and potentially dangerous feature on their street.