City of Winter Haven-
Early Reports Referenced a Sinkhole — Here’s What We Know About the Intermodal Drive Road Closure
We understand that hearing reports of a “sinkhole the size of a football field” in southeast Winter Haven can be unsettling. The safety of our community is our top priority, and we want to share the most accurate and up-to-date information about what occurred on Intermodal Drive Thursday evening.
Here’s what we know so far:
Early reports were based on initial observations.
When emergency crews first arrived on scene, they described over the radio what appeared to be a large sinkhole near a construction site. As is common in fast-moving situations, responders communicate what they see in real time to ensure rapid coordination and safety. As additional information became available, it became clear that the area in question was actually a retention pond under construction.
A tunnel formed between two retention ponds.
There is an existing retention pond across Intermodal Drive from the new construction. As excavation work progressed, a siphoning effect developed between the two ponds, causing water from the existing pond to flow underground toward the new one. This created a tunnel beneath the roadway connecting the two ponds. Because Intermodal Drive is heavily used by semi-trucks hauling full loads, the road was immediately closed out of an abundance of caution. The roadway itself remains intact, but the tunnel beneath it must be evaluated before reopening.
Private property, coordinated response.
The construction site, roadway, and stormwater infrastructure are all privately owned. The property owner’s construction team and geotechnical engineers are on site assessing the situation and determining the best method to safely fill and stabilize the area. City of Winter Haven staff are present to provide support as needed, including Winter Haven Police maintaining the road closure overnight for public safety.
We know situations like this can cause concern, and we appreciate the community’s patience as engineers work toward a full resolution. The City will continue to share verified updates as new information becomes available.
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ORIGINAL POST:
ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE from WH Public Safety Dept:
Oct 9, 7:53 pm-We are aware of a construction-related incident that has caused Intermodal Drive to be closed. Crews are on site assessing the situation. We will update if more information becomes available
