Stevens repaired a sinkhole that had formed outside the Babbio Center over the winter intersesssion. The sinkhole formed due to a gap between Babbio garage and the adjacent rock ledge. The gap formed during the garage’s construction in the early 2000s. In response, Stevens placed two steel beams running down the gap, one along the garage and the other along the cliff. Between the beams, timbers were stacked to form a retaining wall and dirt was poured in to fill the resulting space. Finally, asphalt was laid down to form a parking lot on level with the Babbio first floor.
However, the wall was not impervious. Over the years, some of the beams began to rot and dirt began to seep out. In December, rainstorms washed away enough soil to cause some of the asphalt to collapse, resulting in a sinkhole.
Fortunately, no one was hurt by the sinkhole, nor was any property was damaged. Stevens immediately called contractors to assess the sinkhole and the threat it posed. Although it did not seem like the sinkhole would expand and cause any more damage, the hole was still cordoned off to prevent any accidents.
The sinkhole was repaired over winter intersession, with the structure receiving several improvements to prevent a collapse from happening again. The dirt is now mixed with gravel, allowing water to be absorbed easier. The wooden wall was also completely rebuilt, this time with small spaces between timbers to allow excess water to escape.
Stevens does not plan for this wall to be permanent. When work begins to complete the Babbio garage, the barrier will be replaced with something much longer lasting. However, Robert Maffia, Vice President for Facilities and Campus Operations, stresses that the parking lot is perfectly safe. In fact, the new wall could last for many years if necessary. “It’s a long-term solution,” says Mr. Maffia, “but we don’t need to have it long-term.”
