Sinkhole shuts down busy road near schools in Rockdale County

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — It could be a while before drivers can use a busy road in Rockdale County.

A sinkhole will have a big impact on students on Monday because there are three schools on Rowland Road.

More than half the street caved in. It's blocked off with caution tape, cones and barriers.

Conyers police said the hole in the road grew all day on Friday. That's when rain pounded metro Atlanta, flooding areas and causing other road collapses.

A creek runs beneath Rowland Road near Rockdale Magnet School.

The fallen asphalt crushed a metal pipe underneath the road. Neighbors worry traffic will be terrible on Monday, especially with three schools off the road within a half mile.

“It’s just unbelievable what water can do," said Carolyn Shiver. Shiver lives nearby and takes Rowland to work.

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“It’s very busy. Of course the schools are here, so I’m not sure how everybody’s going to get to school. There’s a lot of residential area on both sides," Shiver said.

She plans to go the long way to work. Shiver expects much more traffic than usual.

“It’s already horrible in this area. It’s going to be even worse for the next few months, I’m sure. However long it takes to fix this," she said.

No word yet on how long it will take to fix the road.

On Monday, the only way to get to Rowland Road is on Pine Log Road.

Cox Media Group