Large sinkhole shuts road in Philadelphia

KENSINGTON -- A large sinkhole has closed one road and is partially blocking another in the Kensington section of Philadelphia.

The call first went out around 3 p.m. Monday for a possible water main break at Tulip and East Huntingdon Streets.

Crews arrived to find an ever-expanding sinkhole that ended up shutting down Tulip Street and part of East Huntingdon Street through the night and into Tuesday morning.

Philadelphia Water Department and Philadelphia Gas Works crews were both called to the scene.

Water department officials discovered a fault in a 12-inch water main that appeared to be contributing to the problem.

PGW says they were called because they have a gas line that runs beneath. PGW customers have had no loss of service.

Crews worked through Monday night into Tuesday morning to get the problem fixed.

After shoring up the site, they set up barricades around the sinkhole and left at about 6:30 a.m.

They were expected to return some time later to continue repairs. There was no immediate word when that work would be completed.

Motorists were being advised to avoid the area.