Austin sinkhole causes flat tires, traffic delays for some drivers
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A sinkhole in southeast Austin is causing major headaches for some drivers. A sewer line break on Tuesday caused the plunging hole, according to Austin Water.
Several lanes at Montopolis Drive and Ponca Street are still closed while they deal with the hole.
The City of Austin's Transportation and Public Works Department said staff in the Mobility Management Center are monitoring traffic signal timing and traffic flow at this location.
"A Street and Bridge crew responded to the location around 6 p.m. [Tuesday] and determined that this was a sewer line break. The crew barricaded the location for safety and monitored until Austin Water arrived at 7 p.m. to take over the response."
Austin's Transportation and Public Works Department
Austin Water said repairs to a part of the broken wastewater pipe will likely be completed by the end of Friday.
The project engineer said records show the original pipe is from the 1950s.
Austin Water said the whole pipe is scheduled to be replaced during a capital improvement project in late 2024.
'My tire popped'
The deep sinkhole left Carolyn Prince's car with two flat tires. Prince accidentally hit the sinkhole Tuesday evening before crews arrived to close off the area.
"My tire popped. I could feel my car going lopsided. I was very scared. My heart was pumping."
Carolyn Prince
Prince said she was able to look inside the hole after the accident. She described seeing running water inside.
This isn't the first time Prince said she's seen a sinkhole in the city.
"We have a lot of sinkholes everywhere," Prince said. "From now on when I'm driving, I'm just going to have to be looking everywhere once I make a turn."
Prince said she's now left without a usable car.
It's something she desperately needs as the caregiver for family members.
"My father is 91. My uncle that I live with is 90. So I travel back and forth from Austin to Cedar Creek taking care of both of them," Prince said. "Take him to the store and to the doctor appointments. I need my vehicle."
She contacted the city's legal department to file a claim on her car's damages.