A water main break lead to a sinkhole opening at a busy Scripps Ranch intersection.
A road at a busy intersection in Scripps Ranch caved in following a water main break, resulting in the opening of a sinkhole Friday morning near Scripps Ranch High School.
The incident was reported some time before 5 a.m. near the intersection of Scripps Ranch Boulevard and Scripps Lake Drive. There, water began to emerge from below the surface of the road and flooded the area. Crews were able to stop the water flow by 8:30 a.m., but a sinkhole with a diameter of about 30 feet ensued.
San Diego News
According to the city, a 20-inch pipeline — first installed in 1984 — burst and crews have been working since the morning to gain access to it from under the roadway. It's unclear what caused the issue.
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No boil water notice is expected in the area. Residents in the neighborhood may experience low water pressure, the city warned. The nearby Miramar Water Treatment Plant is expected to operate normally.
According to SDG&E, just a little more than a dozen customers were without power in the immediate area.
⚠ Road Closures ⚠
Crews are expected to continue working on the sinkhole into the weekend, according to Arian Collins, Supervising Public Information Officer with the City of San Diego. Commuters, avoid the area if possible.
- Northbound Scripps Ranch Boulevard is closed between Meanley Drive and Hibert Street
- Southbound Scripps Ranch Boulevard is closed between Hibert Street and Scripps Lake Drive
- Both directions of Scripps Lake Drive are closed just east of Scripps Ranch Boulevard
The closure will impact commutes to Scripps Ranch High School, which is just off the corner of the intersection the incident took place.
The school said aside from traffic, classes and activities will not be affected by the incident. It did, however, send a letter to students and parents warning them to refrain from drinking water on campus until otherwise noted.
It's unclear how many gallons of water spilled in the incident. No injuries were immediately reported in connection with the incident.
