A sinkhole was discovered over the weekend, in the Duneland Chamber of Commerce parking lot at 220 Broadway, according to the Town of Chesterton.
Chamber President Maura Durham, who was making the rounds of the European Market when she saw a small hole in the asphalt then noticed that the asphalt itself was spongy when pressed.
Durham barricaded the area and contacted the Chesterton Street Department.
Tuesday morning Assistant Street Commissioner Dan Moy was able to confirm that the only thing immediately beneath the asphalt was air.
Excavation revealed that a cinder-block stormwater basin had failed and collapsed, allowing dirt and gravel to wash into the stormwater sewer itself. Tuesday afternoon the Street Department crew had mostly finished excavating and was working to remove as much debris and rubble as possible, so that a new cement basin can be installed.