Repair Work Begins on Colorado Sinkhole

Repair work is starting on a 100-foot-deep hole beside Colorado’s U.S. 24 on Tennessee Pass.

The hole opened July 9 when the soil gave way above an abandoned, collapsed railroad tunnel.

Hayward Baker Inc. won a roughly $830,000 contract to do repairs. Work was getting under way Wednesday.

The repair job will close a four-mile stretch of U.S. 24. The Colorado Department of Transportation hopes to reopen at least part of the highway by Aug. 6. The USA Pro Challenge cycling race plans to use the route Aug. 23.

CDOT says Hayward Baker will receive a $5,000 incentive per day for an early opening. They will be assessed $5,000 each day they are late.

CDOT says the total cost of repairs, including traffic control, is estimated to be $1.5 million.