Massive Sinkhole in Mobile Raises Concerns for Wynnfield Neighborhood
A growing sinkhole in the Wynnfield neighborhood of Mobile, Alabama, has become a significant concern for residents, threatening safety and infrastructure. Spanning wide and deep enough to pose a serious hazard, the sinkhole has reportedly been expanding for nearly two months without resolution.
Residents Sound the Alarm
Michael Hites, a Wynnfield Subdivision resident and HOA board memeber, first reported the sinkhole to the City of Mobile’s 311 phone line. Despite his efforts, the issue persists, with Hites expressing frustration over the city’s slow response. He shared that last week, a representative from public works informed him that Mobile currently operates with only one pothole patching truck.
“We have a lot of kids in the neighborhood. They’re always out riding scooters and those little Razor things. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that’s going to be a hard stop,” Hites said, emphasizing the potential danger for children playing nearby.
In an effort to expedite repairs, Hites reached out to City Councilwoman Bess Rich, who has been actively advocating for a resolution.
Councilwoman Responds to Concerns
Councilwoman Rich acknowledged the seriousness of the situation in an email to Hites, stating:
“I will write it up again. I hear what you’re saying about needing a pothole truck. Makes sense. Interestingly, the Financial Report we received at Council today mentioned that our treasury is in excellent shape. We have a tremendous reserve—at last report, $85 million. That’s all good. Operations are below budget, and sales taxes are up.
The Council just approved the purchase of seven trash trucks to help the system get back on schedule. Perhaps a pothole repair truck should be on the list too! Or at least a contractual arrangement with private business if the Administration would rather outsource. There’s no excuse for not having timely repairs to our streets.”
Councilwoman Rich also confirmed that she has raised the issue with the Mayor and other city officials, highlighting that MAWSS (Mobile Area Water and Sewer System) conducted a smoke test to rule out infrastructure damage caused by their systems.
“It’s a serious safety problem, and I hope the City views it as such,” Rich wrote. She emphasized that while she cannot direct city employees by law, she will continue advocating for the necessary repairs.
City’s Response
Justin Moore of NBC 15 News reached out to the city for comment. Communications Director Candace Cooksey issued the following statement:
“We’ve had members of our public works team visit the sinkhole in Wynnfield Subdivision on more than one occasion, and we are currently working with MAWSS to determine whether the problem is being caused by its infrastructure or something else. This is an important step in the process because filling in the sinkhole without addressing the root cause wouldn’t fix the problem and could likely result in the hole forming again.
We understand the concerns of nearby homeowners and motorists, and we are currently working with MAWSS to address the situation.”
Residents Demand Urgent Action
Hites and other residents are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of immediate action. “All I’m asking is that they come out here and take care of it before it becomes a bigger problem,” Hites said.
Currently, the sinkhole is only covered by a piece of plywood provided by a neighbor, with a caution sign placed by the city on top. However, the caution sign is missing its orange blinking lights, and residents report that it has been hit by cars multiple times in recent weeks.
Safety and Long-Term Solutions
As the sinkhole continues to pose a danger to the community, residents are calling for faster action and greater accountability. Beyond immediate repairs, the situation highlights broader concerns about the city’s infrastructure maintenance and resource allocation.
For now, the neighborhood waits, hoping that the city will address the issue before the sinkhole causes even more damage—or worse, a serious accident.