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Traffic on the Long Island Expressway is severely impacted by a massive sinkhole near Exit 49 in Melville, New York. The sinkhole, which measures approximately 10 feet in diameter and 8 feet deep, has forced the closure of the right and center lanes on the westbound side. According to the Suffolk County Police Department, the closure is expected to last at least 24 hours.
The sinkhole was reported around 1 p.m. on Thursday and appears to have been caused by a contractor working on a local municipal sewage project. Jeffrey Jimenez, a motorist who encountered the sinkhole, blew out both front tires and narrowly avoided serious harm. "It's scary. By the grace of God I'm fine," Jimenez said.
The New York State Department of Transportation has begun securing the area and plans to install new asphalt pavement. Motorists are advised to use the North Service Road or the Northern State Parkway as alternate routes. Te Pei, a civil engineering assistant professor at Stony Brook, emphasized the complexity of fixing such sinkholes, noting that it involves excavating the area, identifying the cause, replacing damaged infrastructure, and restoring the pavement. "We need to really look into the subsurface pipeline system and the local geology," Pei explained.
The DOT is working to reopen the expressway as soon as possible, but no specific timeline is currently available. Drivers are encouraged to expect delays and exercise patience while repairs are underway.
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