Sinkhole near Newark causes traffic backups along Route 2

A sinkhole “the size of a compact car” on Route 2 near Newark caused significant backups Thursday and Friday as county and state officials worked to mitigate it.

C.R. McLeod, spokesman for DelDOT, said it’s not entirely clear what caused the sinkhole, which is in the left lane of Route 2 east, near Melrose Place Drive. Initially, it was thought to be caused by a New Castle County water pipe under the road, but county officials have since said the sewer line is not to blame.

As of Friday morning, county workers were still working to determine the cause. McLeod said the county’s public works department was digging up the area.

As a result of the sinkhole, which is about 15 feet long and 5 feet wide, the left lane and left-turn lanes were closed Thursday afternoon. Traffic was getting by slowly in the right lane.

Route 2 west was also moving slowly as passersby ogled at the sinkhole.

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