News 12 at 6 o'clock; September 4, 2008

BURNETTOWN, S.C. --- 2 sink holes right across the street from each other on Carline Road in Burnettown have been getting worse since March. Now work is being done, but the DOT says they are way behind on other projects in Aiken County.

People who live near the sink holes say it's taken way too long to get those holes fixed. The DOT tells News 12, they are behind and this isn't the only one they're trying to play catch up with.

A water line is exposed in one hole and in another hole, there's a gas line exposed. Mel Minitor is trying hard to get the problem fixed.

"The fact is, this has been so long," says Mel.

The problem goes all the way back to March of this year. That's when Police Chief DP Smith took pictures of what the water line sink hole looked like.

"It's a matter of time before a car goes off into the ditch, hits the gas line, explodes and kills someone," says Mel.

He says people sometimes move the barrels that are on the road and drive right on through.

"I would expect this to be done 2 or 3 months ago," says Mel.

"I'm that far behind all my other maintenance activities that were postponed because of the storm debris," says Kelvin Oglesby with the SC DOT.

Kelvin says the March tornado's are why the holes were not fixed earlier. He says normally there are about 20 projects on the table. But, he tells News 12, right now, there are up to 40 projects that need to be worked on.

"Little projects like this (referencing the sink holes) all over the county," says Kelvin. "We prioritize them and yes, this is a priority. It's one of our biggest projects. The problem was getting the materials lined up."

"Come on, 6 months," exclaims Mel.

Smith wrote a letter to Kelvin letting him know he wants to see something done on the road.

"We never really got an update. We were told it would be handled," says Smith.

"We don't forsee any delays like this for any future projects," says Kelvin.

"I want it fixed," says Mel.

So, the work has started and the DOT tells News 12, it should take about 2 weeks before the road is opened up again.

Smith and Minitor also tell News 12 there is another spot on Carline Road where there is a problem. They say there the road is sinking down right where there is a large ditch. Kelvin says he has not looked at that problem yet.

The DOT was out on the scene working on the holes Thursday afternoon.

Kelvin also tells News 12, there are 2 other problems. The first is the powerlines and poles that are near the two holes. He says he's been in contact with SCE&G, but SCE&G says they have not had any official conversations with the DOT. SCE&G says they are ready to help, when they are called up.

The second problem, Kelvin says, is making sure his workers remember that they must continue to maintain a road; rather than just getting the work done and not checking it again.