GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A sinkhole has developed along the west side of the Grand River near the Blue Bridge and the Grand Valley State University Eberhard Center.

The sinkhole is being caused by dirt flowing into an old mine located in the area, according to James Moyer, associate vice president for Facilities Planning at GVSU.

In 1898, William T. Powers began constructing a gypsum mine 100 feet below the bed of the Grand River. The mine shaft was located at the most westerly span of the Blue Bridge, formerly the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Bridge, according to the Grand Rapids Historical Commission website.

Moyer said in a statement they are working to remove some of the old damaged timbers which covered the mine shaft, bring in a large-size gravel mix to fill the opening, tamp the mix to cause it to interlock, and bring in a sand fill and then soil to restore the area.

Once this fix is in place, a monitoring system will be installed so that they can get an early warning if there is a failure in this proposed system, he said.

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