Sinkhole Swallows Part Of Tulsa Interstate

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- I-44 from Lewis to Peoria will remain closed until at least Thursday afternoon, according to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.  Crews shut down both directions Wednesday evening after a large sink hole was discovered.

The hole was discovered in the right lane and shoulder of westbound I-44 just after 6 p.m.  Water could be seen at the bottom of the hole.  ODOT says the hole was 12 feet wide and 24 feet long.

No one was injured.  ODOT says one car was damaged by the sinkhole.

Crews are tearing up both the eastbound lane and the westbound lane of I-44 so repairs can be made.

"Once we get the roadway torn up, we'll evaluate the best way to fix it," said Marty Stewart, with ODOT.  "Hopefully, it will be just insert a steel metal tube, close some material around it, and put some asphalt on it."

Crews are diverting westbound traffic at the Broken Arrow Expressway.  Eastbound traffic is being diverted at Highway 75.

"I know its a big inconvenience but we're going to get going on it and soon as we can get going," Stewart said.

There is no word on what caused the hole to open up.