sinkhole closes 123 in Oconee County

Due to the development of a sinkhole, Highway 123 is currently closed to all traffic. That portion of Highway 123 connects Westminister, South Carolina with Toccoa. The sinkhole is located near Dixon, Tabor and Singleton roads.

Detour signs are in place to guide traffic down Singleton/Dixon Road.

A statement released by Oconee Mayor Brian Ramey states, “The road collapsed and caused the 8″ water line to pull apart. This is located where the DOT (Department of Transportation) has already determined the road is caving in and a 200-300-foot section of highway will have to be excavated and rebuilt. This is the Hwy 123 project we’ve been waiting for the DOT to begin for several months.”

The mayor went on to say they would be installing about 200 feet of pipe to bypass the collapsed area until the DOT decides what they will do with the road repair.

Some water customers in the area are experiencing interrupted service because of the water main break.

As of this report, officials have not released a time frame for the water to be reconnected or the road to be repaired.