Sinkhole on College of the Redwoods Campus; Landslide Cleared from Kneeland Rd (Re-Open)

Monday morning, a staff gardener at college of the redwoods noticed something peculiar near one of the main driveways on campus. It may not look like much from afar, but up close, it is clear– this is a large sinkhole, extending underneath one of the campus’ roads.  College of the Redwoods Police quickly taped off the area, as crews came in to assess the damage.

The sinkhole is underneath a road, which was immediately closed to drivers. Workers on scene said any amount of weight on the road could be dangerous, and the plans as of Monday were to remove the remaining asphalt and find the cause. They believe it could be a leak in large storm drainage pipe. We found mud and water bubbling out from the ground and filling up nearby low-lying areas. Crews say that water drainage is not normally there.

No one was hurt in the sinkhole.

Mud and debris from a landslide Sunday evening on Kneeland Road just east of freshwater led to a road closure. By Monday afternoon, the road was cleared and opened, but the landslide still looks precarious and possibly active. We could see mud on the road for hundreds of yards. With more rain forecast across the area this week, remain cautious when driving and remember to never drive through standing water, and keep an eye out for collapsed pavement or mud and debris flow in the roadways.