Three eastbound mainlanes reopen on I-10 after sinkhole area repaired; westbound lanes remain closed

HOUSTON – One day later, traffic is moving again Thursday afternoon on the East Freeway (I-10) after a water main break caused the roadway to crumble.

The break created a large sinkhole near Federal Road, forcing a major shutdown of all lanes in both directions on the East Freeway. The stoppage triggered heavy delays for commuters Thursday morning.

Officials said the problem began when a City of Houston water line ruptured, washing out the freeway shoulder and creating a large underground void.

“This is pretty much a first,” said Danny Perez with the Texas Department of Transportation.

Latest repair updates

Just ahead of the evening rush, TxDOT announced that crews had opened up three eastbound mainlanes. The eastbound left shoulder and left lane still remain closed.

All westbound lanes still remained closed.

OUR FIRST REPORT: Sinkhole shuts down all eastbound lanes on East Freeway at John Ralston

Reopening timeline

TxDOT officials told KPRC 2 early Thursday afternoon that some eastbound lanes could potentially reopen later if all goes well.

Just before 3 p.m., TxDOT reported that crews were “getting much closer to the final stages of wrapping up work” on the east side of I-10.

At 4 p.m., TranStar showed the lanes reopening and traffic back flowing.

Hole measurements and repair work

TxDOT told KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry that crews found the 12-foot by 15-foot opening in the shoulder, but after excavation, the total void underneath the lanes measured roughly 24 feet by 30 feet, with the deepest point reaching about 14 feet.

TxDOT said crews have been rebuilding the roadway in layers, including:

• Three dump trucks of rock (about 30 cubic yards)
• 45 cubic yards of flowable fill (a concrete-like material)
• Asphalt (about 7 cubic yards, or 16 tons), which was still being placed Thursday afternoon

City says water leak repaired overnight

The City of Houston confirmed to KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry that the water leak was repaired at approximately 2 a.m. Thursday morning, allowing TxDOT to begin the road restoration process.

The rupture was likely due to the pipeline’s age. The waterline involved is believed to be pre-1962, Mayor John Whitmire’s Office said.

When asked about the alleged dated waterline, TxDOT officials said it’s too early to be sure.

“We’ll work with the city as far as where what the issue was and how this all took place,” Perez said.

Since no water appeared above the surface, it’s unclear how long the pipe may have been leaking before the rupture.

“The sinkhole that developed is not the only one; there can be more,” University of Houston Assistant Civil Engineering Professor Pietro Milillo told Bryce. “The question is understanding how far the water leaked.”

Milillo added that, with current screening technologies, officials might have had no way of detecting the sinkhole before it happened.

City officials estimate repairs to the water line will cost around $20,000, funded through Houston’s combined utility fund, specifically, drinking water operations.

TxDOT said its biggest concerns are checking for cracks in the roads and working to catch these situations ahead of time.

“If there’s anything we can do to remedy or prevent something like this in the future, of course we’re going to look at that,” Perez said.

Alternate routes recommended

As the hole was being repaired and the lanes were closed, TxDOT urged drivers to avoid the area and use alternate routes, including:

• US 90
• US 90A / Business 90 (McCarty Road)
• SH 225

All routes can reconnect drivers to I-10 further east beyond the closure.