By Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Sinkholes near Blacksburg middle and high school are raising concerns of county leaders.
This past week, the Montgomery County board of supervisors approved monies for a geographic study into the two sinkholes.
The first sinkhole measures four feet in diameter, while the second is approximately 2-3 feet in diameter.
Supervisor Mary Biggs questioned school staff about whether the problem is limited in nature or could more problems be expected. She was told they thought the cases were isolated but will know more once the engineering study is completed.
“We all know what happened at the old Blacksburg High School, so we need to make sure,” Biggs said.
In a statement later in the week, Spokesman Robert Ratcliffe said the school division is engaging a civil engineer to develop a mitigation plan in coordination with the geotechnical engineer.
“At this time, the sinkholes do not pose any safety risk to the public or surrounding infrastructure. As a precautionary measure, both areas have been fenced off to ensure public safety,” he said.
Southwest Virgina is part of the Valley and Ridge Province, which is an extensive karst terrain where the bedrock is primarily composed of soluble carbonate rocks like limestone and dolomite.
According to Virginia Energy, because these rocks dissolve easily in mildly acidic groundwater, the region is susceptible to sinkholes. Typically, the region is highly susceptible to sinkholes, which form underground voids collapse or surface soil washes into subsurface cavities.
In some cases, you will find sinking streams where surface water disappears into the ground.
Recent massive sinkholes have swallowed roadways and threatened local habitats in the New River Valley like Giles County, where one closed down the U.S. 460 highway.
However, the ones near Blacksburg High School seem limited in the small size, and staff do not believe they create a danger to the public or students who use the area in question.
The geographical survey amount of $9,000 was part of a much larger amount of $1,899,150, which comes from the Christiansburg High School Construction capital bond interest.
The total amount will also provide $1.8 million for the HVAC upgrade at Auburn Elementary School, $36,300 for the districtwide POTS Line Replacement for fire panels, $15,350 for Blacksburg High School dugout repairs, $9,000 for Margaret Beeks Elementary School basketball goals and concrete bike rack pad, and $1,500 for the Shawsville Middle School Electrical Panel Assessment.
Previously, supervisors approved a similar amount ($9,000) to a geotechnical study and repair of sinkhole #1.
