GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - Some Grand Rapids home and business owners want to know why the city isn't fixing a four-foot sinkhole at the intersection of Walker Avenew and Leonard Street NW.
Residents and motorists have put up humorous signs asking the city to fix the problem. The current one reads, "Repair Pending, World Record Verification."
Neighbor Joan Day says it's obviously referring to the lack of work being done on the sink hole. "I've seen people spray paint "fix me" on it. Then they (the city) replace it."
Jamie Thomas says it's affecting her business at Eclipse Salon. Customers can't get out of the parking lot during busy times.
"Well, it's a hassle. Traffic is backed-up and you can't get out to make a left hand turn at the light."
Day says it's at its worst during rush-hour. "It gets backed-up around the corner quite a ways."
The neighbors and business owners can't figure out what's taking so long. As she laughs, Jamie says, "I have no idea. Maybe there's worse holes someplace else."
According to the Grand Rapids, the sink hole is a top priority. The repair is just taking longer than engineers expected. The sinkhole is due to a bad sanitary sewer line underneath the road. A special 30-inch pipe liner had to be ordered and has not yet arrived. The city hopes to have it by the end of the week. Once it's installed, the road can be permanently repaired.