A sinkhole that opened early Saturday morning on the southbound FDR Drive near East 120th Street turned the highway into a slow crawl, snarling traffic and triggering official alerts. Drivers were told to build in extra travel time, consider alternate routes and brace for delays while road crews assess the scene.
Sinkhole: Southbound traffic delays on the FDR approaching 120th Street in Manhattan. Consider alternate routes and allow for additional travel time.
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDNEWS) June 13, 2026
NYPD issues alert
The NYPD sounded the alarm shortly after midnight on its official X account, warning that a sinkhole was causing southbound delays on the FDR approaching East 120th Street. The alert was pushed out through the city's NotifyNYC system and urged drivers to seek alternate routes and plan for additional travel time. According to NYPD News on X, motorists should expect delays while crews evaluate the condition of the roadway.
Planned lane work could compound delays
The timing is not great for drivers. The sinkhole disruption lands on top of other scheduled lane restrictions on the FDR this week, which the New York City Department of Transportation has listed in its weekly traffic advisory. Per NYC DOT, drivers are urged to check 511NY and official city channels for live traffic conditions and be ready for detours on nearby surface streets while crews respond.
Not an isolated incident
City officials and neighborhood groups say this is just the latest in a run of pavement failures and collapses this spring. Earlier in April the East River Esplanade was closed between East 93rd and East 94th Streets after a long-standing hole worsened. In May, a school bus slid into a sinkhole on East 180th Street in the Bronx, according to Norwood News.
What to expect next
The NYPD alert did not specify a cause for the sinkhole or give a timeline for repairs, and as of midmorning city agencies had not posted a formal update. Motorists and cyclists are being urged to follow official feeds for real-time information. The NYPD account also reminded New Yorkers to call 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies while the situation is evaluated.
