A sinkhole spurred by a water main break has resulted in ongoing traffic disruptions in Boynton Beach, keeping parts of Boynton Beach Boulevard closed beyond 24 hours. The incident unfolded around 2 a.m. yesterday at the intersection with Lawrence Road, according to reports from WPBF. Officials estimate the sinkhole to be 44 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 10 feet deep, swallowing a portion of a tractor-trailer's back end in the eastbound lanes.
Unharmed in the accident, the truck driver was luckily not injured, said city representatives, while admitting that the road likely succumbed to a hidden leak beneath when the truck was passing over it. Repair efforts have been initiated, and while westbound Boynton Beach Boulevard has been reopened, workers scramble to restore full function, as the eastbound lanes remain closed per a statement obtained by WPBF. The city projects the completion of the fix to stretch through the weekend.
In an updated note, WPTV reports that the 16-inch water main rupture at the aforementioned location was contained by city crews, and the lanes headed westbound were made accessible to traffic just after 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Boil water notices were sent out to nearby establishments while efforts to replace the damaged pipeline continue, with businesses feeling the squeeze.
"We had to cancel the whole day because of the road closure," Juliana Lutwin, a receptionist at Palm Beach Periodontics, a nearby clinic, told WPTV. The water main break left them unable to perform dental implants and procedures without any water. She added that rescheduling patients has been a challenging task, with many expressing dissatisfaction over the uncontrollable circumstances. The clinic now eagerly awaits the city's restoration of normalcy, with appointments pushed to Monday, a day the doctor does not usually work.
Motorists in the affected region are advised to seek alternate routes such as Woolbright Road and Military Trail until the repairs are concluded and normal traffic flow resumes. Businesses located east of the sinkhole were also subjected to water cut-offs for an hour yesterday but have since been put on a boil-water notice. Boynton Beach officials and workers are working against the clock, ensuring safety and a prompt return to everyday life for both drivers and local businesses.
