HILLSBORO, Ill. — A giant sinkhole discovered in southern Illinois may threaten the integrity of a nearby road.
The sinkhole was first discovered on Thursday near Illinois Route 185 between Hillsboro and Coffeen, Illinois Department of Transportation officials said Monday. The sinkhole has grown in diameter since it was first discovered, making the area unsafe for travel.
"Until further notice, IL 185 will remain closed while a geotechnical consultant evaluates the situation," IDOT said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
When asked for details on the sinkhole, IDOT told 5 On Your Side to contact the nearby Deer Run Mine. Foresight Energy, the owners of Deer Run Mine, have yet to respond to 5 On Your Side's request for comment.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Office of Mines and Mineral was notified by Foresight Energy of the subsidence event on Thursday, IDNR officials told 5 On Your Side. The sinkhole is allegedly the result of a caved-in borehole shaft or a deep, narrow hole made for drilling.
"Mines and Minerals staff and mine personnel are monitoring movement at various survey points," IDNR Director of Communications Jayette Bolinski said. "As of Friday, the survey data indicated movement had slowed dramatically, but it will continue to be monitored."
A volunteer on the Illinois Sierra Club Coal Mining Issues Team said the boreholes were used to control and monitor a previous underground fire in the coal mine.
"At the beginning of this underground fire that was spreading, they couldn't control it, they used a lot of water, but then that wasn't working. So they use nitrogen to suffocate the mine. Well, they needed places to pump that in and get more concrete down below," volunteer Joyce Blumenshine said.
Blumenshine said these problems are nothing new for area farmers who have been dealing with mine subsidence for years.
"Farmers say they've lost more topsoil due to long wall mining erosion in the last four years than in the decades of their family farm and that is heartbreaking and wrong," Blumenshine said.
The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency safely escorted 5 On Your Side out to the sinkhole to take a look, but don't want drivers to go out there themselves.
"As interesting as it may be, we don't want to have an influx of people coming out looking at it, because it is a serious situation," Montgomery County EMA Deputy Director Dan Hough said.
Hough said county crews have also been checking on the sinkhole at least twice a day and say it's still slowly growing.
"There's movement throughout. So, you know, each time you come out, you see that it might have gotten a little bit larger," Hough said.
This is a developing situation. This article will be updated with the latest information as it is released.
To watch 5 On Your Side broadcasts or reports 24/7, 5 On Your Side is always streaming on 5+. Download for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV or the Apple TV App Store.
Top St. Louis headlines
Get the latest news and details throughout the St. Louis area from 5 On Your Side broadcasts here.