Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. Weighs In on Mississippi Sinkhole that Swallowed 15 Cars

Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. (www.SureSealPavement.com), the leading provider of asphalt seal-coating in Brampton and Peel Region, is commenting on a massive sinkhole that swallowed 15 cars in Mississippi.

A massive sinkhole in Meridian, Mississippi, opened up in a road and swallowed 15 cars outside of an IHOP restaurant. Aerial video showed the extensive damage done to the pavement, cars, and sidewalk by the sinkhole, which measured over 50 feet wide and 30 feet deep. (Source: Blum, S., “Aerial Video of Mississippi Sinkhole is Insane,” Inverse, November 9, 2015; https://www.inverse.com/article/7934-aerial-video-of-mississippi-sinkhole-is-insane.)

“Sinkholes are a very common cause of road damage, but what happened in Mississippi is truly an extreme case,” says Lance Bradshaw, president and CEO of Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. “Despite that, it’s not uncommon for a sinkhole to be big enough to swallow a couple of cars. Sinkholes of that size are more frequent than people think.”
At over 50 feet wide, the Mississippi sinkhole destroyed an entire stretch of road longer than the adjacent IHOP restaurant. Some cars in the hole were almost completely submerged in sediment and debris.

“When you have pavement that isn’t properly maintained, this type of damage can easily occur,” says Bradshaw. “A sinkhole of this size would likely be the result of many years of neglect. There was likely an issue with the drainage pipe beneath the road’s surface.”

Water damage is one of the largest contributors to sinkholes. Roads in Mississippi—and other similar climates—are at an increased risk of developing sinkholes due to the heavy amount of rainfall that occurs in the area.

“When there are cracks or holes in pavement, water from rain or snow will seep in and cause damage beneath the surface,” notes Bradshaw. “A lot of the time, you can’t tell the extent of the damage from the road’s surface. If there are cracks or holes, then there is probably damage too.”

No one was hurt in the Mississippi sinkhole, although the damages will likely cost millions of dollars. Depending on who was responsible for maintaining the road, the IHOP restaurant could be accountable to fund repairs.

“These sorts of things don’t just cause property damage, they really are safety risks,” says Bradshaw. “This sinkhole was over 30 feet deep and could have easily killed someone who was in the area. Property owners really have to take steps to ensure they are keeping their property safe otherwise they may find that they’re held liable.”

Bradshaw says that with proper maintenance, sinkholes can easily be avoided in most cases. There are a number of easy and inexpensive maintenance techniques which can extend the life of pavement.

“The sooner you deal with pavement maintenance, the less it is likely to cost you,” says Bradshaw. “By performing sealcoating and filling in pavement cracks, you can prevent sinkholes from developing. This sinkhole in Mississippi could have been avoided if precautions had been taken much earlier.”

As the leading pavement maintenance contractor in the GTA, Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. specializes in rebuilding and repaving, as well as catch basin repairs. They offer an industry-leading seven-year structural warranty. More information about their services can be found on their website at www.SureSealPavement.com.