Sinkhole forms under Kenmore bridge, snarling Tuesday morning traffic
Dec 18, 2018, 11:50 AM | Updated: 2:36 pm
Avenue in Kenmore, just before the bridge over the Sammamish River. (City of Kenmore)
(City of Kenmore)
It was not a fun morning for drivers in Kenmore and north Juanita. The 68th Avenue bridge was closed because of a sinkhole under the road on the south end of the bridge.
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It could be a few days before drivers in the area get their 68th Avenue bridge back. The sinkhole formed around 7 p.m. Monday evening. It forced a closure of the road, causing massive traffic backups over the Tuesday morning commute.
“It created a void under the roadway by about 20 feet by 20 feet, and about six feet deep,” said Northshore Utility District engineer Dave Kaiser.
“(The sinkhole) created an depression in the roadway, and part of the shoulder fell in,” he said. “So we didn’t actually get a gaping, open hole.”
Kaiser says they are filling the void with concrete now and then have to make road repairs.
The sinkhole and repairs will likely disrupt traffic if Tuesday morning was any indication. Traffic backed up for miles on every road through the northeast corner of Lake Washington as drivers scrambled to find alternate routes. The bridge connects Kenmore and Juanita/Inglemoor. It is a major commuter cut-through for people trying to avoid 522.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Plan ahead and allow for delays during the commute the next few days. This will most likely cause significant traffic impacts along NE Bothell Way (SR 522) as well as 96th Ave NE, Waynita Way, and 100th Ave NE. Please be patient. https://t.co/skqO9BAddK
— Bothell Police (@BothellPolice) December 18, 2018
