RICHMOND, Va. -- When you're driving on area interstates, you don't expect to see a massive pothole pop up on the highway. That's what drivers experienced Tuesday when a three-foot wide pothole opened up and closed all lanes of I-95 north near Route 288 in Chesterfield.
"That really surprised me. I didn't think that we would have anything that drastic in the middle of 95,” Walter Seaborne said.
The hold opened up during Tuesday evening's rush hour and VDOT crews spent 24 hours making emergency repairs to a separated storm sewer pipe under the pavement.
Massive pothole on I-95 near Route 288.
WTVR CBS 6 asked VDOT how often those underground pipes are inspected.
Lindsay LeGrand with VDOT said those pipes under the interstate extend from the median to the left and center lanes.
She says VDOT has interstate monitors who do visual inspections of the highways drainage systems daily. They use cameras to look for damaged pipes, drainage backup, and discolored water. And those monitors can also detect any cracking pavement that may indicate underground issues.
Left Lane Closed
Even though, no one was injured as a result of this incident, drivers say you have to be alert on the highway.
"It's nerve-racking because you don't know if you're going to lose control of your vehicle or not,” Seaborne said. .
VDOT said crews discovered Tuesday’s pothole during their routine inspection and quickly took action.
If you see any road hazards, call 511 on your cell phone and VDOT will dispatch a crew to the area.
