The Peoria Public Works Department says the freeze-thaw cycle could damage underground sewer and water pipes. Director Mike Rogers says the ground freeze this season is three feet deeper than a typical winter. He says warmer temperatures then shift the ground that could break sewer pipes:
“Then the water and other materials are just going underneath the pipe and…the soil underneath it goes in the pipe and it starts to create a big void, and thus you’ll see sinkholes that’ll start to appear throughout. And that’s what we’re bracing for,” Rogers says.
Rogers says sinkholes could take months to develop as the void slowly grows. He says he eventually wants to install cameras to better detect pipe damage. Rogers says residents should contact the city if they notice any potential sinkholes.