Sinkhole closes I24 east until the weekend

Interstate 24 east near the Grundy-Coffee County line will be close at least until the weekend after the road gave way to a massive sinkhole this morning.

The hole is 40 feet by 18 feet wide and 25 feet deep, and transportation officials said it is growing.

Officials believe the hole may have been forming for years but only gave way today after heavy rains over the last few weeks.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation will award an emergency repair contract this evening or first thing in the morning, said TDOT engineer Ray Rucker.

Until the work is finished, motorists traveling east should take exit 114. Signs direct motorists to take highway 41 and 51 around the hole, a 13-mile detour that could be congested at peak travel times.