Holly Springs Man Has Sinking Feeling About Driveway

Sometimes driveways crack, but the cracks in Todd Freeman's driveway are symptoms of a serious problem.

"The crack started to form underneath the driveway and then it got deeper and deeper," Freeman said.

Freeman said the problem got so bad that he could stick his arm all the way underneath the driveway. He said the cracking started six years ago. At the same time, pavement in front of the driveway started sinking.

Freeman believes the problem stems either from a sewer line or stormwater pipe or both that run under his driveway. He called the Town of Holly Springs. A year later, a representative came out and said he did not see a problem, but Freeman kept calling.

"I called the mayor. I called the town. I called the departments to the point where I knew they were tired of me calling," he said. "I was always told, 'We'll look into it. We'll come out.' They came out twice. Both times, no results."

Freeman feared his driveway would collapse, so he shoveled a truckload of dirt underneath it, but part of the driveway is still sinking.

"It just keeps getting worse and worse and worse," Freeman said.

After Five On Your Side called Holly Springs, the town sent workers out to assess the situation.

"It's been a situation that's evolved over time," said town spokesman Mark Andrews.

Andrews said the problem is not the sewer line. He said town experts believe it is simple settling. He said they checked the road periodically and felt the damage was not bad enough to fix until now.

"We had someone out last fall and the damage was not as severe as it is now. So we're intervening now to try to prevent further damage to the road," Andrews said.

Freeman said that is ridiculous, saying it has been a serious problem for years.

It is not yet known how much of Freeman's driveway problem will be addressed because Andrews said the town is only responsible for the road and curb, not private property. He said the town will do what is necessary to make a "smooth transition" from the road to the driveway.

Freeman will have a better idea of what exactly that means on Tuesday when he and town representatives meet at his home.