Sinkhole Repairs Complete On MD 32: State Highway Administration

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — A large sinkhole formed on MD 32 Thursday near MD 295. Crews worked for hours to fix the hole, which made multiple lanes impassable on the westbound side of the highway in Anne Arundel County. The sinkhole was 8 feet wide and 8 feet deep, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation.

By 8:20 p.m., the State Highway Administration reported that all lanes on MD 32 west had reopened.

The emergency roadwork was completed ahead of schedule; repairs — which required the closure of two left lanes on MD 32 west near MD 295 — were expected to take until midnight.

The sinkhole formed on a stretch of road that state highway officials say 78,000 vehicles travel each day.

The MD 32 sinkhole may have been caused by a pipe collapse or soil erosion, State Highway Administration spokesman Charlie Gischlar told WBAL TV.

A sinkhole is a depression in the ground that occurs when the rock below the surface dissolves, a situation which may go unnoticed and become apparent by a sudden collapse, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Before it was repaired, drivers had been advised to avoid the sinkhole by taking MD 175 or MD 198 as alternate routes. Officials encouraged commuters to give themselves extra time.

MD 175 and MD 100 were heavily congested due to overflow traffic, WBAL Radio reported as of 3:55 p.m., advising drivers to take MD 198 instead.

At 8:17 p.m., the Maryland State Highway Administration reported all lanes were open on westbound MD 32.

See the latest lane closure information from state transportation officials.

Sinkhole photo courtesy of the Maryland Department of Transportation. Table above via CHART.