5:03 PM: Thanks for the tips! We just got multiple reader reports that traffic on Admiral Way is being directed around a reported sinkhole near SW Stevens, by Schmitz Park [map]. We’re off for a look.
5:32 PM: Photo added. An SDOT Incident Response truck is next to it (another photo adedd below).
8:51 PM: We recalled something similar in the area and checked the archives – three years ago, a few blocks west.
Excellent! Giant Admiral Sinkhole! I am one square from winning the 2020 West Seattle Cataclysm Bingo Tournament! Come on Plague of Locusts!
My wife mentioned a large pothole. But that’s ridiculous . Glad no one was injured.
Do you have the recurring one on Fauntleroy way between Edmunds and Hudson? They seem to pour asphalt over the hold every couple of years. Google Maps has two different patches for the same spot if you use satellite and streetview XD
There was a water line leak further up the hill which was fixed this morning. Water had been running on the surface of the road for a day or two, so I can only imagine what’s been going on below the surface.
There was a wet area of pavement at Lander and Admiral this morning, plus there has always been that running water just up the hill 50 feet or so.
Nice! So is this close to the bridge, on the hill, or…? I can’t tell from the photo.
Thanks. So close to where the NE end of the bridge connects back to the hill.
Oh good – so it’s up a ways further up the hill. Was worried it was closer to the park/bridge (and the big drop underneath it). Of course, I could have just walked down there and looked for myself. Thank you WSB! :-)
I keep thinking 2020 is an episode of Dallas and going to wake up check the shower and it’s all been a dream ( nightmare)
many of you won’t get it , that’s ok
I can only imagine :) My brother and I had to go to bed after Dukes of Hazzard was over and the Dallas intro credits were rolling…
There has been a water leak the last few days about 100 feet uphill – I am guessing these are related
That sinkhole has been in the making for awhile. It’s been there and filled a few times. I usually drive around it. Was only a matter of time…..
Thinking this may take 5 months to shore up then another 3 to determine whether it’s worth fixing? Is that too optimistic?
Breaking News:”The city council has announced that it won’t be able to address the sinkhole until 2022. Access through the sinkhole is reserved for official swamp people only. The coast guard will be on hand to cite anyone else who attempts to use the sinkhole to gain access to downtown Seattle.”
Fill it with politicians. That will definitely drive out the swamp people. But then they’ll just move to another neighborhood. I guess the best solution would be permanent signage around it with a “No Diving” sign.
This part of the road on Admiral has leaked for the 21 years I’ve driven it, and probably long before that. I don’t think it is anything as simple as a broken pipe. It shows up on the road as flowing water from the asphalt, they dig it up, do repairs, and then it reappears a few years later. Maybe some readers could offer insight into what this is.There are lots of natural springs around here. Water runoff flows underground, then surfaces and runs down the streets. You can see it on the east end of Admiral right before you pass under the WS bridge, and on the north end of California as you head downhill to Harbor Ave. I also have heard there are many underground streams here…
This is true. There are many unmapped and ever-changing underground springs throughout West Seattle. This is the sort of information I want the light rail tunnel supporters to directly answer and plan for.
Anyone familiar with the 4′ sinkhole in the middle of 50th/Sunset? Over a year and no repairs. It’s been blocked with a warning sign the whole time. Definitely makes it appear that the city cares to fix issues. Ha!
There is a large depression in the pavement at Holden and 30th. Last Spring, I saw water gushing down the street and informed the City. A few days later an SPU guy was out doing “temporary repairs” but it has never been permanently addressed. I think the City has a very large “deferred maintenance” bucket. The kind of bucket the handyman for my house highly discourages.
Isn’t there a few natural springs in the area? I’m guessing that is the reason, or it’s a city main below the street that busted open.
Between Alaska & Edmonds Street on 50th lots of Natural Springs. It took almost 3 moths for the City to Fix the leaking spring that has been there forever. It was fun to watch the 10 guys come, they would bring one piece of equipment then leave for the day. Next day they would all stand around and discuss, no work would be done. Next day they would dig out said piece of road. And so on, and so on, and so on. Like I said this small patch that they did took 3 months. We shall see how it Winters over this year. Lol.
About 10 years ago I was looking at my moms WS condo on a map on one of the Seattle city websites. The map show an old (underground?) stream that matched the cracks and wetness of the buildings parking lot. I wish I could remember which dept/map it was. Not sure if it was the one what showed the road grid and plat # or not. That map might be useful.
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