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Repairs continue on large Ponce de Leon sinkhole, two lanes reopen each way

By FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
Updated  June 28, 2023 5:54am EDT
Midtown
FOX 5 Atlanta

Repairs continue on Ponce de Leon sinkhole

A stretch of the busy Atlanta road is closed until the pipe and the hole are repaired.

ATLANTA - A driver said he thought he hit a typical Atlanta pothole, but knew something was wrong when his car started sinking. Then, he saw water.

That "pothole" opened up into a large sinkhole, exposing a sewer pipe. It happened in the middle of Ponce de Leon Avenue between Argonne Avenue and Myrtle Street in Midtown Tuesday afternoon at approximately 2 p.m.

Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) and DWM crews have remained onsite assessing the situation and developing repair and traffic control plans. Excavation work to remove the deteriorated sewer pipe is underway in preparation for pipe repair/replacement. Motorists should avoid the construction area until restoration work is completed. 

PHOTOS OF THE SINKHOLE AT 11 A.M. WEDNESDAY

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SKYFOX 5 is learning more about a sinkhole that opened up in Midtown, swallowing a white SUV Tuesday afternoon.

SKYFOX 5 circled over the vehicle, learning more about the sinkhole.

Thankfully, police said there have not been any reported injuries.

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SKYFOX 5 is learning more about a sinkhole that opened up in Midtown, swallowing a white SUV Tuesday afternoon.

Atlanta Watershed officials say a ruptured sewer pipe is to blame for the sinkhole. It caused a temporary water outage. Watershed crews worked though the night to excavate the hole to figure out how it can be fixed.

Ponce de Leon Avenue between Argonne Avenue and Myrtle Street is partially closed until the pipe and the hole are repaired.

Right now, officials say there's no timeline for when the stretch of the busy Atlanta road will reopen.

The driver of the white SUV told FOX 5 he thought he just hit a pothole until his car started sinking.

Recent metro Atlanta sinkholes frustrate drivers

Sinkholes are nothing new for metro Atlanta drivers. In May alone, crews had to repair at least three of the holes that popped up on streets.

In Cherokee County, a huge sinkhole closed part of Arnold Mill Road, forcing drivers to find alternate routes.

In downtown Roswell, Webb Street was shut down for sinkhole repairs.

Workers had to pump water from the giant hole.

Lanes had to be closed in Brookhaven for a sinkhole that opened up on Buford Highway after crews working on a water main caused the road to give way. 

All three have since been repaired.

If you spot a sinkhole, a pothole, or any other road hazard, you can report it by dialing 311 or (404-546-0311. You can also go online to ATL 311's website.