Sinkhole increases to 40 feet in Tennessee
Sinkhole at Austin Peay State University expands to ~40 feet
Construction crews working on renovations at Austin Peay State University’s Governors Stadium discovered a sinkhole that rapidly grew from an initial 3-by-5-foot opening to roughly 40 feet deep and 40 feet wide. The hole was first noticed near the football field end zone where the field meets the track during a project to replace the main stadium building.
To stabilize the area and locate competent bedrock, crews excavated the collapse zone much deeper than the original void. Superintendent Mike Jenkins of Nashville-based Bell & Associates Construction said crews are taking a methodical approach: “We’re not going to skip any steps.” Excavation continued until stable bedrock was identified and appropriate repair and backfill methods could be designed.
The incident underscores common geotechnical challenges in regions with variable near-surface soils and shows why thorough subsurface exploration is essential before major construction. The remediation required larger-scale excavation and geotechnical testing to determine the appropriate foundation and backfill strategy.
What happened
- Initial discovery: small 3 ft × 5 ft void near the end zone during stadium renovation.
- Expansion: crews excavated and uncovered a sinkhole approximately 40 ft deep and 40 ft wide to reach stable bedrock.
- Response: controlled excavation, geotechnical evaluation and planned remediation to ensure stadium safety.
Implications for projects
Incidents like this highlight the importance of preconstruction geotechnical investigations and flexible construction plans that anticipate subsurface surprises. When sinkholes or unexpected cavities are found, contractors typically:
- Stop work in the immediate area and secure the site
- Perform targeted subsurface exploration (borings, test pits)
- Consult geotechnical engineers to design remediation (stone columns, controlled backfill, underpinning)
- Verify stable bearing strata before placing new construction
Original reporting by GEOTILL. For the source article and image, see: Sinkhole increases to 40 feet in Tennessee.
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