Construction crews continued to fill a massive sinkhole that formed on the Interstate 805 off-ramp to Kearny Villa Road in Serra Mesa on Monday, affecting access to two major hospitals, California Highway Patrol said.
The sinkhole on the right side of the two-lane road was reported by a driver at about 8:15 a.m., CHP Sgt. Joseph Aboy said.
By the time officers had arrived, the opening had become a massive 25-foot wide and 30-foot deep sinkhole.
CHP completely shut down the roadway to traffic amid concerns that the hole could overtake both lanes of the off-ramp.
The ramp remained closed for the remainder of the day and part of Tuesday morning as crews worked to determine what caused the gaping hole to form and fill it with dirt and asphalt.
Caltrans had hoped to have the roadway reopened before Tuesday, but rain proved a problem for crews.
Sandbags were placed around the rim of the sinkhole to stop rain from falling inside.
The Kearny Villa Road exit was one frequently traveled by first responders.
“This a major offramp that emergency medical personnel might take to get to Sharp and [Rady] Children’s Hospital so they’re going to have to find alternate routes to get to the hospital,” Aboy said.
It was not immediately clear if any responses were delayed because of the sinkhole.
The agency was still investigating the cause of the sinkhole but Caltrans said but rain may have contributed, Aboy said.
“This looks like something that has formed throughout several days and we had some rainstorms since the beginning of the year, several that may have caused it but don’t know yet,” Aboy said.
Caltrans said six culverts, which funnel rainwater into the city’s sewage system, run near the sinkhole and may have also contributed to the formation.
No other information was available.
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Photo Credit: Caltrans
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Source: NBC San Diego
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