Overnight, a roughly 20-foot-wide sinkhole quietly opened beneath both lanes of Wymore Road in Maitland, swallowing the pavement and shutting down a key cut-through east of I-4. The county-maintained stretch was closed early Friday, with drivers pushed onto side streets while crews scrambled to secure the scene.
Officials say the depression was spotted just after midnight. So far, it is not growing and no nearby structures appear to be affected. City crews and Orange County personnel have fenced off the area and are urging residents to steer clear until repairs are finished.
The sinkhole takes up both lanes between Oranole Road and Hope Road, just south of Brightwater, and is being handled by Orange County crews because Wymore is a county road, according to WFTV. Traffic is being turned back in both directions while city and county officials work out detours for the busy corridor.
Detours Set, but Fix Will Not Be Quick
"It is pretty sizable, so the repairs are going to take some time," Robert Sargent, the city of Maitland's public information officer, told WESH. There is still no firm timeline for when Wymore will reopen, and officials are asking drivers and nearby residents to avoid the area while crews complete their assessments.
Why Central Florida Keeps Dropping Out From Under Us
Sinkholes are a familiar problem in Central Florida, where soft limestone below the surface can dissolve over time and suddenly give way. Groundwater changes and aging infrastructure can speed that process up, leaving roads and yards vulnerable to abrupt collapse. ClickOrlando notes that the Maitland–Winter Park area sits inside a stretch of the state often dubbed "Sinkhole Alley."
For now, drivers are being rerouted onto Maitland Avenue and nearby local streets, WESH reports. City officials are warning commuters to expect delays on surrounding routes, especially during the morning and evening rush.
City officials say the depression was first spotted shortly after 12 a.m., and Orange County will oversee repairs to the damaged stretch of Wymore Road, according to FOX 35 Orlando. There is still no public timetable for reopening. Residents looking for updates are being urged to monitor official city and county channels and local traffic alerts.
