Traffic closed on 40th Street after sinkhole opens near Fresh Grocer

Traffic closed on 40th Street on Friday afternoon after a sinkhole opened up between Walnut and Chestnut streets, directly in front of Jake’s Sandwich Board.

A SEPTA official, who did not give his name, said the probable cause of the sinkhole was a water leak, which would have washed out the foundation under the road. The road will remain closed until SEPTA can shut off the water in order to fix it, he said.

Workers in yellow SEPTA vests worked in front of the sinkhole during the afternoon, though it was unclear when the road would reopen. 

SEPTA trolley lines, including the one over which the sinkhole occurred, will be suspended at 4 a.m. tomorrow along will all other forms of SEPTA transit excluding the Market-Frankford and Broad Street subway lines. 

Photo Manager Carson Kahoe contributed reporting.