Sinkhole in Palm Desert continues to cause delays

Drivers should expect delays in Palm Desert today,possibly through this afternoon, while Coachella Valley Water District workersrepair a sinkhole caused by a sewer line rupture.

The sinkhole, about 10 feet by 20 feet, was reported on Cook Street nearSheryl Avenue Tuesday morning. One lane of northbound and southbound CookStreet are closed south of Sheryl Avenue, as is the northbound turning lanefrom Cook Street onto Sheryl Avenue, according to the water district.

Crews planned to work through the night and beyond to fix the sewer lineand road, according to the water district.

“It appears that sand entered the pipe through a small crack over timeuntil the surface gave way, causing the roadway in that area to sink. Theprocess was so gradual that the sinkhole could not be predicted,” according toa district statement.

“A minimal amount of sewage leaked from the pipe, but it did not leavethe sinkhole.”

Water and sewer service are unaffected.