Departmental Road at Risk of Collapse Due to Closed Underground Tunnel
- Gauriac,France — A road in the Gironde department was closed to traffic after the revelation of a cavity linked to an underground quarry.
- authorities in the Gironde region of France closed the RD133 on March 7 after a fontis collapse was discovered above an underground gallery in Gauriac.A fontis collapse refers...
- The cavity measured 60 centimeters in diameter and 1.6 meters in depth.
Road Closed in Gironde After Underground Quarry Collapse
Table of Contents
- Road Closed in Gironde After Underground Quarry Collapse
- Underground Quarry Collapses: Your Questions Answered
- What is a Fontis Collapse and Why Does it Matter?
- What Happened in Gauriac,France?
- Why are Underground Quarries a Concern in the gironde Region?
- What Risks Do Unlisted Quarries Present?
- How Common Are Underground Stone Quarries in Gironde?
- What Factors Contribute to Quarry Collapses?
- Summary of Key Information
Gauriac,France — A road in the Gironde department was closed to traffic after the revelation of a cavity linked to an underground quarry.
authorities in the Gironde region of France closed the RD133 on March 7 after a fontis collapse
was discovered above an underground gallery in Gauriac.A fontis collapse refers to a sinkhole or cavity that forms due to the deterioration of the roof of an underground structure.
The cavity measured 60 centimeters in diameter and 1.6 meters in depth. it extended approximately 50 centimeters under the road. According to the department, the collapse did not cause visible damage to the road’s structure.
Extensive Quarry Network
Following the incident,the department’s career office,with technical support from the Recognition and Intervention Group in Perilous Environments (GRIMP) of SDIS 33,launched an examination.
The investigation of galleries close to the surface (approximately 5 meters deep) identified an area about 80 meters from the collapse site that was susceptible to further fontis development. Remediation work, primarily involving filling the fontis, began on March 17.The site was under daily surveillance,and the RD133 was scheduled to reopen on Monday,March 31.
The Gironde department has approximately 1,450 known underground quarries spread across 123 municipalities. around 110 sections of departmental roads, totaling 25 kilometers, are possibly affected by these underground structures.
Unlisted Quarries Pose Risk
The incident highlights the risks associated with both known and unknown underground quarries.According to World Today News, a family in Cursan, Gironde, had to evacuate their home after a 4-meter hole appeared in their garden due to heavy rain, revealing an unlisted limestone quarry. While there are 1,400 listed underground quarries in the department, many wild quarries still remain unknown.
Research published by Springer Link indicates that underground stone quarries are common in the Gironde region, with numerous cavities developing beneath 112 communes, covering an area of approximately 2,000 hectares. An analysis of collapses as 1836 identified the geometry of the underground structures as a primary instability factor.
Underground Quarry Collapses: Your Questions Answered
What is a Fontis Collapse and Why Does it Matter?
A ”fontis collapse” refers to a sinkhole or cavity that forms when the roof of an underground structure, such as a quarry gallery, deteriorates and collapses. These collapses pose notable risks, especially when located under roads, buildings, or populated areas.A recent incident in Gauriac, france, highlights the potential dangers of these geological events.
What Happened in Gauriac,France?
Authorities in the Gironde department of France closed the RD133 road on March 7,2025,after a fontis collapse was discovered above an underground quarry gallery in Gauriac.
The Collapse: The cavity measured 60 centimeters in diameter and 1.6 meters in depth.
The collapse extended approximately 50 centimeters under the road.
Impact: Although the collapse didn’t cause visible damage to the road, it prompted immediate action. The road was initially closed for safety reasons and to allow for a thorough inquiry.
Investigation and Remediation: the department’s career office, with support from the Recognition and Intervention Group in Perilous Environments (GRIMP) of SDIS 33, launched an investigation to assess the extent of the damage and identify potential risks. Remediation work, including filling the fontis, began on March 17, and the RD133 was scheduled to reopen on March 31.
Why are Underground Quarries a Concern in the gironde Region?
Underground quarries are a significant concern in the Gironde region due to the sheer number of them and their proximity to infrastructure. The gironde department is known to have approximately 1,450 known underground quarries spread across 123 municipalities. around 110 sections of departmental roads, totaling 25 kilometers, are potentially affected by these underground structures.
What Risks Do Unlisted Quarries Present?
the incident in Gauriac underscores the risks associated with both known and unknown underground quarries. A family in Cursan, Gironde, had to evacuate their home after a 4-meter hole appeared in their garden due to heavy rain, revealing an unlisted limestone quarry. There are many “wild quarries still remain unknown,” suggesting that many more potentially unstable sites aren’t being monitored.
How Common Are Underground Stone Quarries in Gironde?
Underground stone quarries are very common in the Gironde region, with numerous cavities developing beneath 112 communes, covering an area of approximately 2,000 hectares.
What Factors Contribute to Quarry Collapses?
Research indicates that the geometry of the underground structures is a primary instability factor.
Summary of Key Information
| Feature | Details |
| ———————– | ————————————————————————————————————————————- |
| Location | Gauriac, Gironde, France |
| Incident | Fontis collapse above an underground quarry |
| Cavity Dimensions | 60 cm diameter, 1.6 m depth, extending 50 cm under road |
| Affected Road | RD133 |
| Underground Quarries | Approximately 1,450 known quarries in Gironde; many unlisted, posing risk |
| Affected Roads | 110 sections of roads, totaling 25 kilometers, possibly affected |
| Remediation | Filling of fontis started on March 17; road scheduled to reopen March 31 |
| Primary Instability Factor | Geometry of the underground structures |