ODOT to deploy emergency bridge over massive sinkhole in Damascus

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The Damascus sinkhole has cut residents off from emergency services like firefighters, ambulances and police, according to county officials.

DAMASCUS, Oregon – The Oregon Department of Transportation and Clackamas County will deploy an emergency bridge typically used by the military to help a neighborhood hit by a large sinkhole.

Clackamas County officials say a faulty pipe created the sinkhole in the community of Damascus, about 15 miles southeast of Portland. The sinkhole cut residents off from emergency services like firefighters, ambulances and police. County officials say some residents may also be stranded.

“This pipe was surveyed about 50 years ago and torrential rains filled it with debris and the pipe just broke down, causing the road to collapse,” the spokeswoman said. County Clackamas, Kimberly Dinwiddie.

The chasm is located on Court of refuge, a dead end street after the intersection of Hogan Road and Rugg Road. On Tuesday morning, the teams began to climb the bridge. Officials said they expected it to be built by the end of the day.

Anthony and Faith Maldonado live about a quarter of a mile down the chasm road. On Sunday evening, they received the warning to move their cars or to be stranded. They were only able to access their homes on foot.

“They said, this is the last time you can get your cars out and everyone started jostling each other,” Faith said. “We have our rubber boots ready to go.”

No one was injured in the incident, but the sinkhole cut off a dozen residents from the emergency services. So they needed a fix as soon as possible.

“This is a historic repair for Clackamas County,” Dinwiddie said.

Historical, according to Dinwiddie, because the county uses the emergency bridge, on loan from ODOT. This will only be the second time this emergency bridge has been used in the past 15 years, according to ODOT officials.

“This bridge has been used in military actions, generally, and it’s something the state keeps on hand for such emergencies like this,” Dinwiddie said.

The emergency bridge will reconnect the neighborhood to essential emergency services, such as fire trucks and ambulances.

“We’re really grateful. It will be really nice to put our rigs back in the garages and have a garbage service and have an emergency service available to us as well,” said Anthony.

Crews hoped that the emergency bridge would be erected and ready for use by the end of the day on Tuesday. They plan to start permanent repairs in early June.

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