TIMONIUM, Md. — A large sinkhole along a major traffic artery caused York Road in Timonium to close Wednesday.
"It's just been a mess all day long," said Dino DiPaola, who works nearby. "I've lived in Timonium my whole life and I have never seen anything this big so it's pretty unreal."
According to Baltimore County officials, the sinkhole is 8 feet deep, 30 feet wide and 50 feet long, making it larger than the average size of a backyard swimming pool.
The Baltimore County Department of Public Works told WMAR-2 News that an end cap to a 12-inch water main gave way during construction and it released a flood of water, causing the road to cave in.
The hole stretches over at least two lanes of traffic and York Road is shut down indefinitely between Padonia Road and Roosevelt Street in Timonium while crews address it.
According to county officials, the initial work was part of an extensive water main renewal project that started six years ago. From Towson to Cockeysville, Baltimore County is replacing old lines with new and larger water mains to provide for growing demand.
Baltimore County Fire officials said a 2-inch active gas line was hit by the water main break when the road collapsed but has since been fixed.
Surprisingly and thankfully for customers, the nearby Sudsville laundromat was not impacted by the main break this morning, but repairs may require some water service to area businesses be shut off as work progresses.
Traffic has been detoured onto I-83, and drivers should expect congestion and are asked to avoid the area. There is no word on when the road will reopen, even partially.
York Rd is blocked in both directions between Padonia Rd and Roosevelt St by police after a sinkhole opened up in the southbound lanes, early Wednesday morning @WMAR2News @MarylandTraffic pic.twitter.com/GpgYT2nUnd
— Mark Roper (@MarkRoperTV) June 12, 2019
York Road is expected to be blocked off to traffic for hours between Padonia Road and Roosevelt Street in Timonium while crews address a sinkhole which opened up after a water main broke during construction @MarylandTraffic @WMAR2News pic.twitter.com/9vzsoX7cKe
— Mark Roper (@MarkRoperTV) June 12, 2019
@MarylandTraffic @WMAR2News pic.twitter.com/9vzsoX7cKe
— Mark Roper (@MarkRoperTV) June 12, 2019
