Update: E. Cherokee Drive Reopens After Sinkhole Repair

UPDATE @ 6:48 p.m.: Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority says East Cherokee Drive at South Holly Springs Road is now open to traffic.

UPDATE @ 4:45 p.m.: Dwight Turner with the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority said the agency is waiting on "three loads of asphalt" to make their way from Kennesaw to the location of the sinkhole.

The suface where the sinkhole has been repaired is ready for the top coating and Turner said "it won’t take very long" for the operation to be complete once the asphalt arrives. 

The intersection should re-open soon after," he added. 

ORIGINAL STORY
   
A water main break on East Cherokee Drive at South Holly Springs Road has forced Cherokee County crews to close the intersection.

A sinkhole formed in the road during the overnight hours, forcing the county shut off water in the area, leaving several homes without water, according to WSBTV. 

Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority General Manager Tom Heard said the break occured on a six-inch water line that was slated to be "decommissioned and replaced once the County Road (and Bridges) Department realigns the intersection later this year or next."

Repairs are currently underway and water service has been restored to the five customers who were out of water earlier this morning. Heard noted crews are backfilling the hole and placing the base for preparations to pave over the area "today hopefully."

"The road should be open again today weather paved or temporarily graveled till paving can be placed, depending on weather," he added. 
 
In the meantime, motorists can use either Toonigh Road or Arnold Mill Road as a detour to access Holly Springs Parkway/Old Highway 5. 

Stay with Patch for updates.