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Tryon working on fixing sinkholes; $200k cost expected

TRYON—The Town of Tryon has secured an engineer to design repairs for sinkholes along Carolina Drive and Chestnut Street.

Tryon Town Manager Zach Ollis said this week the repairs will require a new set of 60-inch pipes to be installed from Woodland Park, on Chestnut Street, to the river underneath Carolina Drive.

The sinkholes occurred following heavy rains a couple of weeks ago. Both roads are currently blocked because of the holes, with detours for both roads in place.

Ollis also said the project will likely cost upward of $200,000 by the time the engineering and repair work is finished.

Some residents have questioned whether past sinkholes at the IGA and Dollar General, which are located between the two current sinkholes are related to the current town issue.

Ollis responded that the issue is not related to the IGA or Dollar General problems in the past. He said the lines are separate from the town line. The IGA/Dollar General line belongs to the state of North Carolina, Ollis said, and traverses water from U.S. 176. The town’s line handles the water from Woodland Park.

Ollis said the town is working on the project and mobilization to repair the issue should begin as soon as some paperwork is finalized.