Investigation continues into cause of road buckling in southwest Detroit

The investigation continues into what caused part of a road in southwest Detroit to buckle and ground excavation is expected to begin early this coming week, a city official said Saturday. 

Multiple agencies are working together to determine what caused a mound to form Sept. 11 on Dearborn street at the intersection with West Fort, disrupting utility lines and emitting fumes at the time. 

"For the residents in the area, we’re still monitoring and performing safe checks as we are getting ready to bring heavy equipment on. To our knowledge, all of the residents have full utilities available to them. And if they're having any issues, we ask them to reach out to use immediately,"  Hakim Berry, the city of Detroit's chief operating officer, said Saturday afternoon. 

DTE has re-routed a high-pressure 24-inch natural gas pipe that was shut down earlier this week, Berry said. 

More: 'Never seen anything like this': Detroit, DTE officials without answers on road buckling

More: Road buckles in southwest Detroit; DTE, water officials responding

There has been no reported or detected gas leak since the DTE line damaged by the ground shift, according to a news release. 

Stash Detroit, a cannabis dispensary at the intersection of West Fort and Dearborn streets, shifted off the ground when the road buckled, but employees were able to safely evacuate. The former business has been demolished.

Leaders, including U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit; City Council member Raquel Castañeda-López and state Sen. Adam Hollier, D-Detroit, joined the Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition on Friday to call on city officials to evacuate residents in the impacted area until the issue is resolved.

“We’re relying on all of the experts to tell us. Know that if there is something that would put the lives of Detroiters that reside here in danger we would act immediately," Berry said Saturday. 

There has not been anymore shifting in the area, Berry said. He advised residents to avoid the area. 

Streets remain closed indefinitely near Dearborn and West Fort, including Miller, Woodmere, Riverside and Stone. 

Free Press staff writer Miriam Marini contributed to this report. 

Contact Nushrat: nrahman@freepress.com; 313-348-7558. Follow her on Twitter: @NushratR. Sign up for Bridge Detroit's newsletter. Become a Free Press subscriber.