The Cardiff Sinkhole is Getting Bigger

Work on the sinkhole is expected to last through April

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Work to stabilize the sinkhole is expected to continue into April, NBC 7’s Kelvin Henry reports.

Encinitas employees are working to stabilize a growing sinkhole in a street in Cardiff-by-the-Sea on Saturday.

Officials said overnight rainfall on Friday totaling 1.3 inches caused the pre-existing sinkhole on Lake Drive to expand. The city didn't specify the exact size of the sinkhole.

Recent rains are expanding the Cardiff sinkhole as Encinitas City crews are working to shrink it on March 11, 2023. (NBC 7)

Crews first had to relocate all utilities -- including cable, gas, electric and water -- before installing shoring to stabilize the sinkhole and ensure a safe working area. Along with the shoring, crews will remain on scene this weekend to prevent further sinkhole erosion, according to the city.

Work is expected to continue through April as crews finish shoring, rebuilding the draining inlet, and reconstructing the drainage pipe, embankment, roadway, sidewalk and storm water detention basin.

No injuries were reported.

The sinkhole has neighbors like Craig and Sandra Ohman worried.

"It’s like straight across the street from us and down one house and the erosion goes all the way to the middle of underneath the street so it makes you wonder if you’ll wake up in the middle of the night with a tumbling house going off the edge you know," Craig Ohman said.

"How long before it gets to us? Well I was thinking how far back across the street does it get to under our house, you know? That’s the scary part," said Sandra Ohman.

During the last storm, an enormous sinkhole swallowed a piece of the sidewalk, NBC 7's Mari Payton reports.
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