HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – As the renovation project at the Stadium of Champions was moving steadily along as new turf is in the process of being installed, the discovery of a sinkhole last week will cost Christian County Public Schools around $140,000 for remediation.

“It’s not on the playing surface, it’s not on the track and it’s not in the bleachers,” Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jason Wilson reassured school board members. “We need to move on it quickly and get it remedied and taken care of so that we can continue with progress out there.”

The exact location of the sinkhole is in the grass path between the visitor’s bleachers and the track. Wilson told Christian County Now that initially the sinkhole was less than two feet in diameter, but the area has been further excavated to find the root of the problem.

Special called meeting held, plan explained

A special called Board of Education meeting was held on July 23, where Wilson broke the news and presented a change order that would cover the cost of repairs if approved.

According to Wilson, the small sinkhole was found when crews working on the renovation of the stadium cut out a portion of the sidewalk and discovered a hole underneath. They initially thought that the hole was caused by pipe failure, and sewer line was also found by the hole. After heavy rain came through the area, it was determined that it is actually a sinkhole.

“We just happened to find it before it was a major emergency problem,” said Wilson. After consulting with multiple geotechnical engineers, and weighing between two options, crews decided the best path forward would be to fill the hole with grout and add in gravel and dirt on top. Materials for this process are estimated to cost $140,000.

With only Erin Westerfield and Lindsey Clark present along with board chair Tom Bell, the change order was unanimously approved. Since the budget for the renovation of the stadium is part of the construction budget for the new Christian County High School, the funds will be taken from the $2.4 million contingency. Wilson said the work will start next week.

The extensive renovation of the stadium includes brand new artificial turf on the play field, improvements to the entrance, paving of the gravel driveway, relocating fencing, and putting in a new track around the field. The project was slightly delayed to accommodate graduations, but crews are working to hopefully have it finished in time for the opening game in August.

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