Crews work to repair sinkhole in Santa Cruz County
‘Tis the season for sink hole repairs. Some work is underway on one that’s 30 feet deep off Highway 1 near Watsonville. Caltrans engineer Patrick Dussell took KION’s Zach Fuentes near it. Dussell says a culvert installed in the 70s deteriorated and collapsed, causing the ground around it to cave in.
“We’ve got to fix it because there’s a vertical face of really sandy material about 15 feet from the edge of the pavement and if we don’t get it fixed it would probably give way in the next storm” said Dussell.
He added that if it does give way, part of heavily traveled northbound Highway 1 would be lost too as the damaged culvert continues to cause problems in the area.
Dussell also took KION to another part of the surrounding area pointing out another developing sink hole.
This sinkhole near Watsonville isn’t the only one in Santa Cruz County. You may remember the one we reported on just last summer at New Brighton State Beach. When we visited the area then it was fenced off but still exposed. Today the sink hole is still fenced off but covered with a tarp-like material. KION is waiting to hear back from Park Service on the status of the repairs there.
Caltrans says the sink hole near Watsonville will be permanently fixed by adding in a new drainage system. The estimated cost for repairs is $2 million. They said in a press release that the repair project begins Monday at 9 AM and is expected to wrap up Wednesday. Drivers are warned to move over and slow down in the area.
