On Monday evening, people in the westbound lane of Third Street probably got a bit of a shock when they approached the intersection with Ashtabula Street — a hole big enough to take out a car tire.

“The manhole failed and caused that sinkhole,” explained Ironton Wastewater Treatment Plant superintendent Dennis Gumbert, adding that particular manhole has eight storm water lines going into it and one coming out.

On Wednesday, a water department crew put a steel street plate over the hole to make it safer for drivers.

Gumbert said a contractor had been out to assess the problem and to see how much it will cost.

“I don’t know how much it is going to cost yet,” he said. “We are going to see if it is something we can tackle ourselves or if it is something we are going to have to hire out. It all depends on the estimates we get back.”

No repair date has been set yet, either.

“We’ll have to see. It depends if we have to hire a contractor and how quick they can get here,” Gumbert said. “I don’t have those answers yet.”