ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Lehigh County Authority has spent the last two days stabilizing the ground near the sinkhole on 15th street in Allentown that opened in January.

That is the same sinkhole that forced two families from their homes.

Neighbors say they live in fear and that it’s only a matter of time before it happens again.

“You don’t move to a place thinking something like that is going to happen,” said Elias Diaz.

Diaz lives two doors down from the major sinkhole that opened in January, forcing her two neighbors to leave their homes. Since then, a “for sale” sign sits in the yard of her neighbor, and the fear of more sinkholes is hitting closer to home.

On May 7, a smaller sinkhole opened on the road in front of her house. It has since been patched, but every time a truck passes, fear of a new, larger problem returns.

Another neighbor says he is worried and says no one tells him what is happening right across the street.

“We just bought here; we’ve only been here for about two years, and now we’re dealing with all this commotion,” said neighbor Abner Ortiz Gonzalez.

He wishes the road was closed to heavy truck traffic he fears could be making the problem worse.

Neighbors are now left to wait and wonder if more problems will arise.

“My hope is that they fix whatever is going on and they tell us what really is happening because we haven’t heard from anyone,” said Diaz.

The Lehigh County Authority will be working on ground stabilization through the middle of next week. They will be on site Friday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from about 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

LCA also provided 69 News with this statement explaining the work taking place:

“Lehigh County Authority is actively monitoring the area around the 15th Street sinkhole, which opened in February, to ensure the safety and integrity of our water infrastructure. Water service remains unaffected.

LCA took proactive steps consulting geologists to better understand the ground conditions surrounding our system in the area. LCA is now performing targeted ground-stabilization work near one of our water mains to help protect the line and maintain reliable service.

LCA is also continuing to work through the insurance process and coordinate with the appropriate parties.”