Union City Thoroughfare To Close For Months As Sinkhole Repairs Begin
UNION CITY (CBS SF) -- Part of a busy Union City thoroughfare where a large sinkhole formed two months ago will be closed for months for repairs to a damaged sewer line, sanitary district officials said Wednesday.
The westbound lanes of Alvarado Boulevard between Fredi Street and Fair Ranch Road will close from Monday until April 15, weather permitting, as utility crews finish repairs on the sewer line, according to the Union Sanitary District.
The company working to repair the sewer line will be working from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each week from Monday to Friday to repair the line after the road collapsed above the line Oct. 14.
The planned work will be the final and most difficult part of the repairs, utility officials said.
"There is a great deal of work to be done, and we are determined to do it as safely and quickly as possible," district General Manager Paul Eldredge said in a statement.
Utility officials do not know the cause of the sinkhole and they may never know, the officials said. Infrastructure for multiple utilities as well as sandy soils and groundwater is in the area of the sinkhole.
Making sure the area is stable and effectively repairing the area is the focus of utility crews and officials, the officials said.
The pipe under repair is 33 inches in size and is about 20 feet below ground. The soil in area near the pipe is unstable and the groundwater table is high.
Crews will have to dig a pit about 60 feet long, 15 feet wide and 20 feet deep at Alvarado Boulevard and New Haven Street to repair the pipe and manhole, utility officials said.
Sewers services in the immediate area will not be interrupted and one eastbound lane of Alvarado Boulevard will be open during the repairs, utility officials said.
Police, city, Alameda County Fire Department and New Haven School District officials are working together to be sure first responders have access to the affected area.
Also, police, district and school district officials are working together to control access to Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School at Fredi and Horner streets.
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