Work Begins on Broken Sewer Line Following Sink Hole

SAN FRANCISCO, CA- Work to replace a broken sewer main that caused a sinkhole collapse Tuesday evening in San Francisco's Yerba Buena neighborhood started today, the city's Public Utilities Commission officials said.

Contractors hired by the agency began the work early this morning to replace a 3-by-5-foot brick sewer main that broke after around 140 years of use and led to a sinkhole forming at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The 12-by-5-foot sinkhole, which is 9 feet deep, appeared on Mission Street between New Montgomery and Second streets, SFPUC officials said. No one was injured when the sinkhole formed, although the front end of a vehicle got caught in it when it first opened up, SFPUC officials said.

The vehicle later had to be pulled out. Sewer service has not been affected and water service is similarly unaffected, SFPUC officials said. SFPUC officials expect that the work to replace the sewer main, which is believed to have broken in part due to its age, to be completed around noon Saturday.

A block on Mission Street between New Montgomery and Second streets will be closed throughout the work. Some San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency buses will have to be rerouted.

By Bay City News, Image via Shutterstock