Evansville Water and Sewer working to reach broken Riverside Drive sewer main

WNIN | By Tim Jagielo

Published March 7, 2025 at 7:47 PM CST

Contractor Deig Brothers works to install the shoring box on Riverside Drive in Evansville, Friday, March 7. It will protect the underground worksite from collapse and debris. Until the sewer main is cleared of road materials, the water utility won't know the kind of repair needed.

Broken main caused sinkhole, filling damaged area with debris; contractors building safety 'shoring box' for workers, repair method still unknown

An excavator is being used by Deig Brothers Construction to pound large beams into the sinkhole on Riverside Drive.

The beams will support the safety structure being built 25-feet down, to surround the damaged sewer line and allow work to happen.

The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) is currently working to gain access to the damaged sewer line, which after the collapse, filled with road debris.

EWSU Executive Director Vic Kelson said it’s called a “shoring box,” but the first step is just clearing the way to the damaged sewer pipe.

“At that point, we can decide what we're going to do next,” he said. “So what the repair will be, whether it's a sleeve or a new pipe or or repairing the brick. So that'll all that will all happen once we can get workers down there.”

This sewer service line is made of brick. It’s 42 by 60 inches and about 100 years old.

Justin Guetling, deputy director of field operations with the EWSU (gesturing) speaks to gathered media on Riverside Drive, Frida March 7, beside Executive Director Vic Kelson (left). He said in a couple weeks they should know what the sewer main needs to be repaired. A specific timeline is not known, though a Spring completion is possible. — Justin Guetling, deputy director of field operations with the EWSU (gesturing) speaks to gathered media on Riverside Drive, Friday March 7, beside Executive Director Vic Kelson (left). He said in a couple weeks they should know what the sewer main needs to be repaired. A specific timeline is not known, though a Spring completion is possible.

Justin Guetling is deputy director of field operations with the EWSU. He said at that point, there’s only one way to look at the damage directly — sending a worker to crawl through the sewer pipe.

“We've got a manhole out in the intersection, and then a couple 100 feet up Chestnut (Street) and we actually did a confined space entry, put a man inside of there where we could get some photos. And we did see the bricks have collapsed of the older sewer main.”

He said this confined space entry revealed there's only one collapse — not multiples.

Guetling said this is a sewer distribution main, and while shut down, has not affected homes or businesses. “We've actually moved the 10-inch water main that runs east and west up in the Riverside, out of the way … and that too has not impacted any kind of businesses or homes up and down the riverfront.”

This project may also prompt repairs or replacements of other nearby sewer lines, such as up Chestnut Street. All repairs are budgeted and in the sewer fund, Kelson said.

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