Sinkhole Opens Near I-5 Bypass

Water ran down the hill gushing across three lanes of the street and up onto the sidewalk.

Construction crews have started breaking up the road on Carmel Mountain Rd. just east of the Interstate 5, Highway 56 bypass as they begin repairs on a gaping sinkhole.

"It's a pretty big hole -- you can sink probably 2 or 3 cars in there!" said resident Tony Chammas.

The mess was caused by a 16 inch PVC pipe that broke late Thursday night causing a river of water to run down Carmel Mountain Rd.

"Last night we heard a big explosion and we felt it throughout the house," said Chammas.

Crews were able to shut the water off and restore water to residents but a nearby apartment complex was reportedly still without water Friday morning.

Water officials say the pressure from the break may have damaged the apartment's internal system.

All of that rushing water sent mud and debris flowing down the hill leaving mud blanketing the road near Carmel Mountain Rd. and Sorrento Valley Rd. under the freeway.

Crews worked to clean up the mud on the on-ramp to I-5 from Carmel Mountain Rd. -- so morning commuters could avoid the mess.

So far crews do not know what caused this pipe to burst. They'll need to repair a 15- foot section of pipe. Crews say repairs will take Friday and possibly Saturday to complete.

The problems didn't end there. A short time after the water main broke several businesses were flooded about a mile away.

I'm thinking holy mackerel, what in the hell went on?" said Sean Curry, owner of the Massage Envy on East Ocean Air Drive.

The spa is shut down, and will be for awhile, because of the damage caused Friday morning.

A gasket ruptured on the service line into the business.

Water pushed around the furniture inside, broke a hinge off the door and even overturned a refrigerator.

"We've got a lot of appointments, especially on the weekends," said Curry. " Plus all the employees... so those are my biggest concerns."

San Diego City water spokesperson Arian Collins couldn't confirm whether the main break also caused the service line to Massage Envy to break.

Collins did say Massage Envy was the only business that lost water service.

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