(The Associated Press circulated the following story on January 5.)
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Trains are still running through Hutchinson, but very slowly, as officials evaluate a sinkhole discovered just south of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. track.
City and state officials are working on a plan to evaluate the sinkhole, discovered Monday night. It is about 75 feet from the track.
The process involves putting in a road to enable equipment to reach the area, about a quarter-mile north of a city street.
Hutchinson Fire Chief Kim Forbes said geologists from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are concerned the sinkhole – currently 80 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep – might get bigger.
“The tracks are closed,” Forbes said. The railroads are continuing to use the track at their own risk, he said.
Two Amtrak trains and six Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight trains use the route every day. Railroad spokesman Steve Forsberg said there is no alternative route and it was decided to let them continue, but only at speeds less than 10 miles per hour.
“We will have engineers taking track measurements every hour on the hour to make sure the structure is not moving,” Forsberg said. “And a track inspector will walk ahead of the train. We are being very, very cautious.
“It’s a track that is traveled fairly lightly, which is a blessing,” he said.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said its passenger trains would come through at a walking pace.
It could be several days before it’s determined if there are other sinkholes in the area.