Second sinkhole appears in East Austin street

Intersection at Mildred and Willow streets to be closed for up to three weeks

Statesman, by Ben Wear, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF, Monday, Jan. 31, 2011

City of Austin crews work Monday at the site of a large sinkhole at Mildred
and Willow streets, one block south of East Cesar Chavez Street. It could take
up to three weeks to repair. (Jay Janner/AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

City crews could need up to three weeks to repair an East Austin intersection after an enormous sinkhole formed Monday a block away from where another such collapse occurred in mid-January .

The road collapse at Mildred and Willow streets just before 8 a.m. was related to a water leak two weeks ago that caused a sinkhole in East Cesar Chavez Street, according to city officials. Water from that hole is believed to have flowed south underground to the Willow area and may have weakened the soil.

The new hole is estimated be about 20 feet wide, 30 feet long and at least 10 feet deep .

The Austin Water Utility , concerned about the integrity of a 66-inch water main about 10 feet under Willow, excavated the intersection over the weekend, then filled in the hole after finding the main undamaged. The hole appeared after crews left.

A 6-inch water main began leaking when the area collapsed, cutting off service to 50 to 60 customers for several hours.