A section of one of the busiest parking lots in Ketchikan is cordoned off Tuesday, after a large stretch of asphalt began to collapse.
The parking lot in front of the Plaza Mall and Safeway is being excavated following the malfunction of an underground water pipe. A backhoe and multiple dumptrucks were on scene Tuesday afternoon pulling logs out of the hole around the water main.
The City of Ketchikan confirmed that the water line leading to Safeway had to be shut off, but didn’t have more information on the excavation because it’s on Safeway’s property and being handled privately.
The manager of Ketchikan’s Safeway declined to comment on the details of the excavation or when it would be completed, saying all press inquiries must be handled through their corporate offices in Seattle. KRBD contacted Safeway’s corporate office, which was not aware of the local excavation.
