FOLLOWUP: Admiral Way sinkhole patched, and what’s next

11:47 AM: For everybody taking bets on how long it would be until the newest Admiral Way sinkhole (at Stevens) got filled, we just went over to check, and it has already been patched, still coned off for now. We are inquiring with SDOT about whether this is the extent of planned repairs or whether something more permanent is planned.

2:29 PM: From SDOT’s Kari Tupper:

Crews put in a temporary cold mix patch on Admiral Way. Please see the attached photo.

We will be putting steel plates down on top of it this afternoon, while Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) runs a camera (CCTV) into the sewer pipe to ensure that there aren’t any issues with the pipe leading to erosion and a sink hole on the surface. SPU is expected to do the CCTV work today and we’ll have the review of the video (i.e. status of the pipe) sometime tomorrow. Depending on crew availability, we’re hoping to fill this permanently and pave it next week, assuming that the pipe doesn’t need any repairs.

Jason here August 27, 2020 (12:47 pm)

Ummm did they find the casue of the sinkhole? I’d bet my lunch money that the sewer line runs right down the middle of the street as it does under most of our West Seattle streets. Perhaps there is some damage to it causing the soil to wash away. But hey – just filling it and paving over is certainly a quick easy fix.

Peter August 27, 2020 (3:26 pm)

Do you actually have any verifiable evidence this was caused by the sewer line, or are you just fishing for reasons to cast aspersions on SDOT?

A-Red August 27, 2020 (12:54 pm)

They were out fixing this late into the evening. Watching TV with my wife at 10pm, we both noted that our whole house was shaking from the heavy equipment they were using. We could still hear the jackhammer and feel the shaking at 11pm.No complaints, just noting that they were “on it.”

dsa August 27, 2020 (12:59 pm)

They need to state a cause.

DeadEndMarc August 27, 2020 (1:35 pm)

I have never seen a permanent patch retain “cones of shame”.There is also an attention-hogging mauve emergency road sign in evidence. My guess is: more of this fix yet to come.Drive carefully, stay safe.

Bucket O' Beef August 27, 2020 (2:06 pm)

I emailed Susan McLaughlin from SDOT back in October of 2016 about these issues on Admiral and she had this to say: “SW Admiral Way is an identified paving need, however due to a significant backlog in deferred maintenance it is not identified in the 9-year plan so there is no timetable for its replacement.” Tracy i actually forwarded that email to you; so you should have it. Basically, dont expect anything different to happen other than patching the next sinkhole that opens up the same way

Jason here August 27, 2020 (2:21 pm)

They could use a few more cones to call attention to the sweet jump they built. “How many cones we need?” “Couple dozen should do it!”

1994 August 28, 2020 (8:52 pm)

Let’s hope no speedsters flip their vehicle on the ‘sweet jump’ since it is only on the driver’s side of the lane.

WSB August 27, 2020 (2:32 pm)

Just added the update from SDOT, in response to our inquiry, above. – TR

Linda August 28, 2020 (8:19 am)

We have lived on Admiral Way for over 40 years, the traffic, speeding and loud car noise continues to get worse. I do believe however if Admiral Way is repaved it would alleviate allot of the noise we get from speeding vehicles going up and down. Final verdict is Admiral Way needs to be repaved, absolutely ridiculous the taxes we are paying and the City cannot repave our streets!!

Smittytheclown August 27, 2020 (4:32 pm)

Is the bridge fixed yet? Pretty sure I saw three whole vehicles up there today! Kudos!

Bucket O' Beef August 27, 2020 (8:35 pm)

SDOT is up there working
Lagartija Nick August 28, 2020 (9:15 am)

Your deflection is duly noted. Yesterday you claimed it would take SDOT years to fix this. 24 hours later, it’s fixed. I assume your apology to SDOT will be forthcoming.