Austin crews stabilize downtown sinkhole after storm drain failure

City of Austin crews closed a stretch of East 10th Street on Thursday morning after a storm drain pipe failure opened a small sinkhole.

Workers cordoned off the 100 block of E. 10th to keep drivers and pedestrians away while they stabilized the site. Metal plates were installed over the opening by late morning, allowing the street to reopen. Nearby curbside parking spots remain off-limits but were expected to return to use later on Thursday, officials said.

Permanent repairs to the damaged storm drain will come later, but the timeline depends on weather conditions. City staff said they expect to release more details after the Thanksgiving holiday, once forecasted storms move out and crews are better able to assess the area.

Before workers arrived, several raccoons were spotted poking their heads out of the sinkhole. The animals appeared healthy and wandered off once crews began their work.

In an unrelated incident a few blocks away, Austin Water crews repaired a water main leak late Wednesday on the 700 block of Brazos Street. The opening visible in the roadway was an access point dug for repair, not a sinkhole, officials said. Water service to customers was not affected, and the street is now reopened.