Overview
- The sinkhole that opened near Exit 49 in Melville Thursday measured about 8 feet deep and 10 feet wide and left a Honda partially lodged, with no injuries reported.
- Police kept the center and right westbound lanes closed and said the shutdown would last at least 24 hours starting Thursday afternoon.
- New York State Department of Transportation crews are performing emergency pavement repairs to reopen all lanes as soon as it is safe.
- Officials urged drivers to use other corridors to avoid heavy delays, pointing to the Northern State Parkway, Southern State Parkway, and Sunrise Highway.
- Civil engineering experts say such roadway collapses on Long Island usually stem from leaking storm drains or utility pipes that wash away the sandy base, a concern amplified after a harsh winter and recent emergency bridge fixes.