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Crews are working to patch up a 20-foot-wide sinkhole in a North Salt Lake road.
A 50-year-old, 18-inch water line that feeds water to two refineries in the city broke overnight and began pouring water into the ground under the street, which caused the hole to open.
The sinkhole was discovered at Orchard Drive and Center Street around 6:15 a.m. Center Street was closed between Orchard Drive and Main Street.
Crews say the old water pipe was scheduled to be replaced in two weeks. The new pipe already had been ordered.
Sara Mathis lives nearby. She says the pipe burst a few months ago. "It flooded the church last time it happened. It kinda seems like they need to figure out what's going on," she said.
She was surprised to hear the pipe was scheduled to be replaced in two weeks.
"It probably should have been replaced two weeks ago because it keeps happening," she said.
She's glad there was no major damage this time. "You worry about these poor people with their houses right here. They wake up twice in a few months and can't get out of their house because of it."
Lori Peterson had to walk up the street past all the trucks to take her 3-year-old to her daycare provider.
"My daycare provider warned me. I did leave a little bit earlier, but I'll leave even earlier tomorrow. I hope they work on it really fast so we can get back to normal," Peterson said.
No one was driving on the roads when the sinkhole happened Monday morning. The road will be fixed by the evening commute.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
(Associated Press contributed to this report)
