Crews pump concrete into large road collapse following weekend storms in Marion County

OCALA, Fla. — Crews are working to fill a large hole that opened on State Road 35 in Marion County after heavy rains this weekend.

The Florida Department of Transportation had to reroute traffic and close off the impacted portions of the road because of the damage.

Deputies found the road collapse Sunday morning when they responded to a call about a crash on SR-35.

"When this hole opened up and swallowed a concrete pillar that holds the traffic signals, those were draped across the road,” Paul Bloom with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said. “And at 5 o‘clock in the morning, the driver couldn't see those lines draped across the road and it caused a traffic crash.”

Officials said the ground collapse is about 35 feet wide and about 20 feet deep.

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A cement truck poured concrete inside the hole Monday afternoon as crews worked to get the roadway reopened.

“Yesterday we had about four or five holes open up around the county,” Bloom said. “Again, which are very common, but these other ones have been in some cow pastures and in ditches that don’t affect anyone. This however affects quite a few people.”

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