Rain and New Cracks Threaten Sinkhole

Several new cracks have appeared in the pavement across the Lions Club parking lot in Oxford. While emergency officials are keeping a close eye on the area surrounding the sinkhole, they still do not have the detailed information to determine the cause.

However, Oxford Town Council agreed to test ground penetrating radar to see if it may prove helpful on a larger scale.

Underground Consulting from Dartmouth is expected on site early next week to conduct the radar tests. 

The same company did similar testing around the Oxford Regional Education Centre a few weeks ago, as officials sought information about why mortar was falling from walls of the school. Ground shifting was not the cause of the school problems.

Emergency officials are worried about rain forecast for tomorrow and Thursday. About 10 to 20 mm of rain is expected and may add to the instability of the sinkhole. It is rain and underground water that erodes the gypsum and salt content found beneath the area of the Lions Parkland.

Officials are continuing their watch over the area.

File photo of the Oxford sinkhole.