Subsidence Report
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SUMMARY REPORT OF A SINKHOLE EVALUATION NW 13TH PLACE SINKHOLE GAINESVILLE, ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA GSE PROJECT No. 14866 Prepared For: CITY OF GAINESVILLE DECEMBER 2020 Certificate of Authorization No. 27430 December 9, 2020 Mr. Lee R. Feldman, ICMA-CM, City Manager City of Gainesville 200 East University Ave Gainesville, Florida 32601 Subject: Summary Report of a Sinkhole Evaluation NW 13th Place Sinkhole Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida GSE Project No. 14866 Dear Mr. Feldman: GSE Engineering & Consulting, Inc. (GSE) is pleased to submit this report of a sinkhole evaluation of the rights-of-ways of NW 13th Place and NW 14th Place that are adjacent to a sinkhole that recently developed. This report summarizes an evaluation by GSE of the findings and geologic conditions at the site and whether sinkhole activity is present beneath the road right-of-ways. GSE appreciates the opportunity to have assisted you on this project. If you have any questions or comments concerning this report, please contact us. Sincerely, GSE Engineering & Consulting, Inc. Jason E. Gowland, P.E. Kenneth L. Hill, P.E. Senior Geotechnical Engineer Principal Geotechnical Engineer Florida Registration Number 66467 Florida Registration Number 40146 JEG/KLH:maj Q:\Projects\14866 NW 13th Pl Sinkhole\14866.docx Distribution: Addressee (1-Electronic) File (1) Summary Report of a Sinkhole Evaluation December 9, 2020 NW 13th Place Sinkhole Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida GSE Project No. 14866 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY GSE Engineering & Consulting, Inc. (GSE) was retained by City of Gainesville to conduct a sinkhole evaluation of the right-of-ways on NW 13th Place, NW 14th Place and NW 40th Terrace adjacent to a recently developed sinkhole. The purpose of this evaluation was to determine if the sinkhole activity that occurred on the adjacent property extended beneath the roadway right-of- ways. GSE explored the subsurface conditions beneath the roadway right-of-ways using geophysical screening methods, Standard Penetration Test (SPT) soil borings and cone penetrometer soundings. Our exploration found conditions typical of the regional geology, with a thin sand veneer overlying clay-rich soils to the limestone formation which was encountered at depths of about 77 to 87 feet below land surface. One anomaly was detected by the geophysical screening beneath NW 13th Place at a depth of approximately 100 feet below land surface, and was believed to be within the limestone formation. SPT boring B-1 was located within the anomaly and extended to a depth of 120 feet below land surface, and found slightly weaker limestone at the 100 feet depth, but no indicators of sinkhole activity. Based upon the results of our sinkhole evaluation, sinkhole activity was not found beneath the right-of-ways of NW 13th Place, NW 14th Place and NW 40th Terrace within the areas explored that are adjacent to the recently developed sinkhole. The remainder of this report summarizes the services conducted as part of this sinkhole exploration and presents our evaluations and conclusions. ii Summary Report of a Sinkhole Evaluation December 9, 2020 NW 13th Place Sinkhole Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida GSE Project No. 14866 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................... iv APPENDIX ................................................................................................................. iv 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 General .......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Project Description ........................................................................................................ 1-1 1.3 Purpose .......................................................................................................................... 1-1 2.0 SITE RECONNAISSANCE ............................................................................... 2-1 2.1 General Site Observations ............................................................................................. 2-1 3.0 PUBLISHED DATA REVIEW ........................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Review of Published Topographic Data........................................................................ 3-1 3.2 Review of Published Hydrological Data ....................................................................... 3-1 3.3 Review of Published Soil Information .......................................................................... 3-1 3.4 Review of Published Regional Geology ....................................................................... 3-2 4.0 FIELD AND LABORATORY TESTS ................................................................. 4-1 4.1 General Description....................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Seismic Reflection Geophysical Study ......................................................................... 4-1 4.3 Standard Penetration Test Borings ................................................................................ 4-2 4.4 Cone Penetrometer Soundings ...................................................................................... 4-2 4.5 Soil Laboratory Tests .................................................................................................... 4-2 5.0 FINDINGS ...................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Seismic Reflection Geophysical Study ......................................................................... 5-1 5.2 SPT Boring Results ....................................................................................................... 5-1 5.3 Cone Penetrometer Sounding Results ........................................................................... 5-2 6.0 EVALUATION ................................................................................................ 6-1 7.0 FIELD DATA .................................................................................................. 7-1 7.1 Standard Penetration Test Boring Logs ........................................................................ 7-2 7.2 Cone Penetrometer Sounding Logs ............................................................................... 7-3 7.3 Key to Soil Classifications ............................................................................................ 7-4 8.0 LIMITATIONS ................................................................................................ 8-1 8.1 Warranty ........................................................................................................................ 8-1 8.2 Standard Penetration Test Borings and Cone Penetrometer Soundings ....................... 8-1 8.3 Site Figures .................................................................................................................... 8-1 iii Summary Report of a Sinkhole Evaluation December 9, 2020 NW 13th Place Sinkhole Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida GSE Project No. 14866 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Project Site Location Map 2. Site Plan Showing Approximate Locations of Field Tests APPENDIX GeoView Project No. 32347 dated December 8, 2020 iv Summary Report of a Sinkhole Evaluation December 9, 2020 NW 13th Place Sinkhole Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida GSE Project No. 14866 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 General GSE Engineering & Consulting, Inc. (GSE) was retained by City of Gainesville to conduct a sinkhole evaluation of the right-of-ways along NW 13th Place, NW 14th Place and NW 40th Terrace that are adjacent to a recently developed sinkhole (Figure 1). 1.2 Project Description A sinkhole developed at the northeast corner of a residential lot located at 4006 NW 13th Place on approximately October 15, 2020. The sinkhole affected four properties, as the sinkhole was located nearly directly beneath the convergence of the rear property corners. The additional properties affected include 4004 NW 13th Place, 4005 NW 14th Place and 4025 NW 14th Place. You are concerned that the recently developed sinkhole has affected the stability of the subsurface beneath the roadway right-of-ways of the adjacent streets. 1.3 Purpose The purpose of this evaluation was to determine the presence or absence of sinkhole activity beneath the portions of the right-of-ways of NW 13th Place, NW 14th Place and NW 40th Terrace that are adjacent to the sinkhole. 1-1 Summary Report of a Sinkhole Evaluation December 9, 2020 NW 13th Place Sinkhole Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida GSE Project No. 14866 2.0 SITE RECONNAISSANCE Mr. Kenneth L. Hill, P.E. and Jason E. Gowland, P.E. with GSE visited the site on multiple occasions in October and November 2020 to observe the site conditions and discuss our exploration with City personnel. This exploration has been coordinated with Mr. Brian M. Singleton, P.E., Acting Public Works Director and personnel from Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). 2.1 General Site Observations A sinkhole developed at the northeast corner of the residential lot located at 4006 NW 13th Place on approximately October 15, 2020. The sinkhole affected four properties, as the sinkhole was located nearly directly beneath the convergence of the rear property corners. The additional properties affected include 4004 NW 13th Place, 4005 NW 14th Place and 4025 NW 14th Place.