Sinkhole creates one-way traffic on California highway after 91-year-old pipe collapses

A sinkhole opened up on a lonely stretch of Sierra highway Thursday morning after a pipe collapsed beneath the road.

At 7:20 a.m., California Department of Transportation officials responded to reports of a sinkhole on a stretch of westbound Highway 50 in El Dorado County, about 10 miles east of Pollock Pines. Officials closed the lane and implemented one-way traffic control, which remains in place as of 4 p.m.

According to Caltrans spokesman Steve Nelson, the sinkhole opened up on a remote stretch of road and did not directly affect any drivers. Despite the lane closure, the stretch of highway has seen only “light traffic” throughout the day.

Although sinkholes are uncommon, Nelson said, they can occur on older sections of roadway that still have the original drainage systems from the time of their constriction. The collapsed pipe that caused this morning’s sinkhole dates back to 1931.

“When we have some aging equipment, something like that can happen,” he said.

Caltrans workers are currently filling and putting a temporary patch over the hole, which should allow the road to reopen late Thursday afternoon, Nelson said. A more permanent fix will be implemented next week, he said.

This story was originally published June 9, 2022 at 4:10 PM.