Preliminary probes by the Dublin City Council have suggested that a sinkhole spotted on a Sandymount street was likely caused by gradual water infiltration. The sinkhole, which surfaced near the walkway’s edge, outside the Mace store at Sandymount Green, was first noticed around 4pm last Wednesday. A chunk of the road, including a two-metre strip of double yellow lines, was eroded away.
A provisional repair was carried out by the council, with more restoration work planned for Monday and Tuesday. According to the council’s press office, the Council conducted investigations on-site on both Thursday and Friday, which indicated that over time, continuous water penetration had led to road subsurface erosion, resulting in the sinkhole.
In an effort to ensure smooth traffic and pedestrian flow, also providing unhindered access to nearby businesses and residences, a temporary traffic management plan was implemented for the weekend.
Local councillor Dermot Lacey voiced the community’s concerns that the sinkhole might’ve resulted from significant construction activities in the area. Without a comprehensive report to dispel these fears, Lacey anticipates them growing, and will be seeking the report ahead of a scheduled committee meeting on Friday.
Sinkholes, characterised by an abrupt and unexpected earth surface depression, are not a rare occurrence in Dublin. In September 2020, a young Dubliner was caught by surprise when one opened up at St Mary’s Avenue North in Dublin 7 during his walk back from school. In the same week, another sizable hole threatening a vehicle was noticed on St Lawrence Road in Clontarf, north Dublin. Prior to that, in June 2020, a considerable sinkhole emerged on Castle Street, Dalkey, close to Dalkey Castle, later identified as a result of a ruined sewer. In 2015, a sinkhole, 6ft deep and 2ft wide, also appeared on Dame Street in Dublin.
Regions with karst landscapes and soluble rocks frequently feature sinkholes due to the dissolution effect of mildly acidic water. The region around Dublin is plentiful in limestone, the stone keenly connected with the creation of karst terrains.