VIDALIA, LA (July 21, 2025) — Mayor Buz Craft announced Monday that repairs are set to begin on the sinkhole at the intersection of Elm Street and Concordia Avenue, a problem the town has been monitoring closely since mid-April.
Crews will begin work Tuesday, with all materials and equipment already on-hand. The town’s goal is to have the intersection reopened before school starts, pending weather and ground conditions.
An initial attempt to begin repairs in mid-July had to be postponed due to standing water in the sinkhole and saturated soil conditions, making it unsafe and ineffective to proceed at that time. Since then, conditions are believed to have improved enough to allow work to begin.
Investigations determined the sinkhole was likely caused by an underground stream, not a utility break, which gradually eroded the soil beneath the roadway. When culverts lost support and collapsed, stormwater was diverted, accelerating erosion and creating the large depression currently visible.
Despite challenges like persistent groundwater and rising river stages, Mayor Craft emphasized that reopening the road safely and quickly remains a top priority.
“It’s always been a priority,” Craft said. “We’re ready to get it done and do it right.”
The town will continue to monitor conditions closely.
You can view Mayor Buz Craft’s update below:
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