Sinkhole repaired on CT golf course in time for Travelers Championship; Hurricane Ida blamed for damage

The cost to repair the sinkhole was $5 million, but the DOT received notice it was eligible for upwards of 90 percent reimbursement through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, because the governor declared a state of emergency in the days after Ida, Morgan said.

The area falls under the purview of DOT because the state owns that land and leases the spot to River Highlands for the 13th hole, Morgan said. The work was completed by O&G Industries.

“That spot in particular was right in the state’s right-of-way, that’s why we were involved and working with the railroad, who is the freight carrier, and Buckeye Pipeline,” he said.

The railroad left suspended is operated by Providence and Worcester Railroad Co., and the exposed natural gas pipe is owned by Buckeye Pipeline, Morgan said.

“Hurricane Ida, that was a significant amount of rainfall. So what it did was, it blew out the drainage pipes there and washed the whole section away,” Morgan said. “The rail line was suspended over the sinkhole. That fuel line was dangling across. Ultimately, that had to get secured, drained and relocated. The rail line was out of service until the end of last year while repairs were underway.”

While the Providence and Worcester Railroad Co. was forced to suspend services in the area until the tracks were properly supported, it has since reopened the tracks and continued freight services, he said.

The line’s freight trains carry steel and lumber on the track multiple times a week, but passenger trains do not travel on the tracks, Morgan said. Providence and Worcester did not respond to a request for comment.

The natural gas pipeline had to be closed off, drained and attached to a temporary detour pipe for the gas, which sat atop the ground until the repairs were complete, he said.

“This was a pretty unique situation in terms of infrastructure. The pipeline had to get drained and relocated while it was running on top of the golf course, and became active, because that’s pumping fuel from New Haven” to Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks, Morgan said.

The jet fuel line was moved above ground and a few feet away from the washout area so it could continue operating because it is imperative for airport operations, Morgan said.

In correcting the sinkhole, the main concern was gaining easy access to the area, in a secluded wooded spot. Some of the golf course was disrupted while bringing in materials and repairing the washout, he said.

The entirety of the project was completed in May. In November, River Highlands shared on social media that the major infrastructural repairs were complete on the drainage area, accompanied by a picture of the new and improved drainage pipes.

“Access was a big thing. How do you get equipment to the spot where the washout occurred? The temporary road had to be constructed through the wooded area and when the equipment got on site, had to dig down before it could be built back up,” Morgan said. “Removing the material and slowly building it back up, like in tiers, adding 10 to 20 feet and securing it until it met the top grade. All that was bringing the material in and having it in place and secured.”

No spots of similar weakness or concern are currently known to DOT; the sinkhole was a unique situation, he said.

Along with replacing the missing soil, additional drainage pipes were added and culverts were updated. The overall infrastructure surrounding the tracks and pipe were improved, Morgan said.

The work to improve the infrastructure and move in new soil was all completed by the end of last year, he said. This spring, worked needed to clean up the area and break down the makeshift road erected to transport machinery and materials.