Crews Temporarily Repair Noe Valley Sinkhole
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A sinkhole at the intersection of Church and 24th Streets in San Francisco, which damaged sewer lines, has been temporarily patched up, officials said, as repairs will be postponed until Saturday.
The 3 by 3 by 10-foot sinkhole opened up on Church Street between 24th and Jersey streets early this morning, damaging an 18-inch sewer line, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
City workers excavated the hole to evaluate the damage today, but were unable to make the repairs due to a lack of crucial safety equipment.
San Francisco Water Power Sewer spokeswoman Betsy L. Rhodes said "safety was the number one concern" for the agency and that "due to the depth of the sinkhole, and the lack of shoring equipment repairs would not be made until after the New Year."
The street was closed to traffic earlier today, but has reopened this evening with the trench covered by metal plates and cordoned off, according to agency officials.
Service on the J-Church light-rail line will continue to be affected and a bus shuttle will carry riders through the area until the repairs are complete, agency officials said.
Rhodes said that drivers are advised to proceed with caution and to expect minor delays in the area.
Agency officials said the specific cause of the sewer failure was not determined and sewer lines around the area have been inspected and cleared.
No sewer service interruptions have been reported in the area.
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