Michigan's Northern Lower Peninsula karst, Alpena/Presque Isle area sit atop soluble limestone or dolomite formations where centuries of groundwater dissolution have created underground void networks. When the thin soil and rock overburden above these voids can no longer support surface loads, it collapses—creating sinkholes that swallow road sections, crack building foundations, rupture utilities, and force emergency closures without warning.
Each sinkhole represents a failure of the underground support system, and where one sinkhole opens, the conditions for additional collapses typically exist across the surrounding area. Reactive repair of individual sinkholes without addressing the underlying void network leaves adjacent infrastructure vulnerable to the next collapse event.
Compaction grouting injects stiff, low-slump grout into the soil column above sinkhole voids—displacing and densifying loose, raveled soil while filling the void from the bottom up. GSI monitors injection pressures and surface displacement in real time to control grout placement precisely.
Where dissolution has created fracture networks feeding expanding voids, chemical grouting seals these pathways. GSI injects low-viscosity polyurethane or sodium silicate grouts that penetrate fractures too fine for conventional cement grout—cutting off the water flow driving continued dissolution.
Effective sinkhole repair starts with mapping what exists underground. GSI uses GPR, electrical resistivity, and borehole cameras to locate voids, active dissolution pathways, and zones of soil raveling before designing the treatment program.
Geophysical investigation before treatment. GPR, resistivity, and borehole cameras locate voids and dissolution pathways before grouting begins—no guesswork.
Real-time injection monitoring. Every grout injection is monitored live for pressure, volume, and surface response—controlling treatment precisely.
Post-treatment verification. Borehole confirmation and repeat geophysical surveys prove the repair worked—not assumptions.
Karst geology expertise. Our team includes professionals who specialize in dissolution mechanics—they understand the subsurface processes general contractors miss.
MDOT partners and Michigan infrastructure owners describe the sinkhole repair solutions GSI delivers across the state.
Don’t let a sinkhole put your project at risk. GSI’s engineers are ready to assess your site and develop a reliable repair plan—so you can move forward with confidence.
