Tropical Storm Fay has left behind a mess to clean up in the form of two sinkholes that have closed lanes on Interstate 10.
The smaller of the sinkholes, which were both discovered Sunday, continues to block a westbound lane on I-10 in Suwannee County.
The larger has closed an eastbound lane in Madison County, and it measures 180 feet long, 55 feet wide and about 25 feet deep.
"Luckily, traffic hasn't been too heavy," said Gina Busscher, Florida Department of Transportation spokeswoman.
Sinkholes form during droughts or heavy rain when limestone beneath the surface wears away. This forms a pocket, which causes the ground to cave in.
Florida is especially prone to sinkholes because the state's bedrock predominantly consists of limestone.
Emergency crews are working to fill the cavities with a combination of cement, sand and water.
In the meantime, the smaller sinkhole has been covered with dirt.
"We believe that the rains from Tropical Storm Fay led to the uncovering of dirt layers," Busscher said.
Neither sinkhole formed directly under a roadway, but past sinkholes have been more destructive.
"A few years ago, a larger sinkhole formed on a lane on I-75," said Busscher.
Gainesville has its own sinkholes, but most are smaller and eventually settle as ponds.
"Sinkholes in Gainesville rarely cause problems," said Sgt. Joe Raulerson of the Gainesville Police Department.
Because Gainesville has the same topography as the rest of Florida, there is always a chance for a sinkhole to form, said Mark Brenner, UF geology professor.
Counties such as Suwannee are more vulnerable to sinkholes because of the larger number of ponds and lakes, Brenner said.
