A sinkhole has been discovered beneath the cobblestones and brick that top Salem's Essex Street Pedestrian Mall. The sinkhole was located near the intersection of Central Street and Essex Street, a location heavy in foot traffic particularly from spring until Halloween.

The sinkhole had a depth of 10 feet, a width of 4 feet, and would have likely collapsed within a few months had it not been discovered during work related to the expansion of the Peabody Essex Museum. 

City engineers believe the sinkhole developed when a concrete-based sewer pipe broke down, causing it to begin leaking into a nearby manhole. This action in turn washed away the soil over time and created the sinkhole.

Read the full article here:

http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1262662458/Sinkhole-discovered-beneath-pedestrian-mall