Late Thursday or early Friday, heavy rains caused the sinkhole off U.S.-74 to grow much larger.
“We had to close the temporary road completely,” Anson County Director of Emergency Services Rodney Diggs said. He estimates the hole doubled or tripled in size.
The McDonald’s and Pizza Hut as well as Harvest Ministries that rely on the road are closed indefinitely.
The hole was initially formed July 28 as a result of heavy rains. At the time, it was estimated at 20 feet deep. Two New Jersey men had just visited the McDonald’s drive-thru when their vehicle’s rear end fell into the sinkhole.
What will happen next remains unclear. County Manager Lawrence Gatewood recommended the Record speak to Wadesboro Public Services Director Hugh James. James said he recommended calling property owner Claude Smith. A call placed to Smith’s office was not returned in time for print.
After the hole originally opened up, a representative of Smith, Joe Mendola, said new 8 to 10-inch pipes would be installed in the area, the road would be regraded and expressed hope this would fix the problem. He gave an estimate of four to six weeks for this work to be completed. What will happen now, or how long any repairs might take, is unknown.
“It’s put all of our services we offer to the community on hold,” said Pastor Steve Adams. Harvest Ministries was forced to relocate the 12 people who stay in the church’s homeless shelter. For the next three weeks, the church will hold services Sundays and Wednesdays at the Lockhart-Taylor Center.
“South Piedmont [Community College] has been very gracious to allow us to secure that building,” he said.
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