Canarsie residents say growing sinkholes on Flatlands Avenue are creating safety hazards
Neighbors say the holes first appeared more than a week ago and have grown deeper and wider with each passing day.
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Canarsie residents are calling for immediate action after a series of sinkholes on Flatlands Avenue between East 95th and 96th streets continued to expand this week, creating what they describe as a dangerous situation for drivers and pedestrians.
Neighbors say the holes first appeared more than a week ago and have grown deeper and wider with each passing day. Several are about six inches deep. Residents told News 12 they have watched cars bounce over them and swerve to avoid damage.
One sinkhole appeared partially filled on Thursday, but residents say the fix is far from complete.
“It’s a band-aid. You see this, and God forbid someone driving at night, they hit it, they could lose their steering,” said Canarsie resident Dennis Lewis.
Businesses along the avenue say another sinkhole in the center of 95th Street has been expanding steadily. A cone placed there days ago now leans sideways, which they say shows how often cars have struck it. Workers say they see the danger every day.
“Fix it,” one restaurant worker said. “I see it every day, cars swerving around or just hitting it.”
Residents say the problem is not limited to the roadway. They believe the entire street corner is sinking, creating hazards for people walking by.
“It’s this whole block, it’s caving in. I saw an older woman stumble and fall earlier. It’s really bad, man,” one neighbor said, pointing to a piece of sidewalk skirting that is now a 2-inch drop from the curb.
News 12 reached out to the Department of Environmental Protection, which said crews have been dispatched to investigate and address the issue. Residents say they want repairs completed quickly before someone gets hurt.
