Large sinkhole in Bay Area city closes road

Trucks are still able to leave from the fire station at that intersection, though they can only turn right on to Alvarado, Alameda County fire spokeswoman Aisha Knowles said.

A sinkhole spanning the two westbound lanes of Alvarado Boulevard in Union City could make it hard for parents to drop off or pick up their children at Alvarado Middle School over the next few days, city officials said. The sanitary district will dig into the hole to inspect its pipes in hopes of finding the cause, Sugayan said.

The hole, which measures 25 by 25 feet across and 10 feet deep, was reported Wednesday morning on a busy stretch of Alvarado Boulevard, near a middle school and a fire station, Sugayan said.

At first, the sinkhole measured “10-by-12 feet – roughly the size of a Mini Cooper”, Sugayan said.

Crews from the Alameda County Water District, which supplies water to about 340,000 Tri-City residents, repaired the main and restored service to customers by 11 a.m. Thursday, district spokeswoman Sharene Gonzales said. The water company, the city and the sewer company are all meeting to figure out what to do next.

Crews have removed pieces of asphalt and other road debris from the area, and stabilized the hole by installing sheet panel in it, she said.

The intersection is closed because of the sinkhole, disrupting traffic in the area, according to police.

It was unclear what caused the sinkhole. A Union City police officer helped direct traffic, but besides the early start, people said this looked and felt like a normal day around the campuses.