LAFAYETTE, Ga. -- Just a few weeks after $687,000 in federal stimulus money paid to pave a stretch of road in LaFayette, a utility line failure under the road caused a blister of asphalt to swell and burst.

Six months later, the scar remains, marked by traffic cones and blocking traffic on South Main Street.

Vanessa Gilliam, LaFayette's public works supervisor, said she's heard from plenty of residents about the 10-foot gash in the road, but there's nothing she can do about it.

"They all want to know when it's going to be fixed," she said.

Since the trouble spot lies on U.S. Highway 27 and Georgia Highway 1, the state Department of Transportation is in control, she said.

GDOT spokesman Mohamed Arafa said the road is believed to have been damaged shortly after the asphalt was laid in September. The contractor, Northwest Georgia Paving, has until the project's completion date of April 30 to repair the damage, he said.

Donnie Gay, vice president at Northwest Georgia Paving, said the company has been waiting for better weather because cold or rainy weather impedes laying asphalt.

"We've been waiting on a couple of things, and one is warmer weather," Mr. Gay said. "The warmer the better."

He theorized that a leaking line underneath the road probably caused the pavement to bubble up, and he was told a fire truck hit the bubble, causing it to burst and sink.

He said the work could be completed in one day, but it probably would cost around $10,000.

Neither Mr. Gay nor Ms. Gilliam were sure when and if the city would be involved in repairing any faulty lines below.

"DOT and Northwest Georgia Paving are in control," she said.