Description

Sink Hole Under the Sidewalk and Driveway in Front of our House. Our problem is similar to the problem you recently reported on in Seneca Place; over the last couple of months the sidewalk and our driveway in front of our house has sunk. Our yard used to be completely flat and now our yard, sidewalk and driveway are on a big slope. I have called several Mecklenburg County officials, our builder (Ryan Homes) and the developer of our neighborhood and they are all stalling in accepting responsibility for this problem. Our home is less than 4 years old and our home is the only one experiencing a sink hole. The Mecklenburg County water department determined that the water line under the sidewalk is not leaking; so the hole is caused because not enough dirt was placed over the water line, or the dirt was not properly compacted, before the sidewalk and the driveway was poured. The sidewalk sections have sunk and shifted and many are crumbling; our driveway in also sinking due to this problem and it is cracked across the entire width of the driveway. Everybody is "passing the buck" on this issue; we do not care who fixes it but this issue needs to be addressed. It is now a safety issue, many people walk around the neighborhood and this issue poses a major tripping hazard. The only difference between our issue and the one that you recently reported on is that the water line under the sidewalk and driveway has not cracked --- YET -- it will crack when the pavement continues to sink. Please help us to get somebody to accept responsibility for this sink hole.

We have several pictures illustrating this problem.