CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi Police Department has shut down the 8600 block of Yorktown Boulevard after reports of a two foot sinkhole on the Yorktown Mud Bridge.
Police are currently re-routing traffic, and the Public Works Street Department is on the scene assessing road damage.
“I was concerned being that it’s access for us to and from on a daily basis,” Flour Bluff resident, Ernesto Mendez said. “Two or three times a day.”
Mendez said he will have to take the long way home.
“It’s not terribly bad but we’re being overly cautious I the interest of public safety we are going to go ahead and shut the bridge down,” Neiman Young, the Corpus Christi assistant city manager, said.
Young tells KRIS 6 News a citizen reported the giant sinkhole on the bridge through their 311 system.
“The bridge was naturally built with a retaining wall but, due to years of lack of maintenance, that retaining wall washed away therefore it made the bridge susceptible to washout,” Young said.
Young said the bridge was left vulnerable.
“So the water has gotten into that foundation and it basically deteriorate and removed a lot of the fill that was under that foundation that led to a sink hole,” Young said.
He said first, TXDOT, city engineers and a third party engineer would assess the whole bridge to make sure the washout won’t lead to further deterioration.
“We are going to fix that washout with our inhouse crews at the public works department and third we’re expecting to bring a permanent fix to the mud bridge,”Young said.
“The one lane, to me, it’s hazardous,” Mendez said. “So you really have to be on your toes when you’re travelling to and from the bridge.”
City officials said residents can get to their homes on either side of the bridge.
“It’s going to be a longer route and somewhat of an inconvenience,” Mendez said.
"Until further notice, all through traffic will be closed, and an alternate route is recommended," said CCPD in a social media post.
All traffic traveling east on Yorktown will be turned around at Krypton Drive. All motorists traveling west on Yorktown will be turned around at Arman Street.
KRIS 6 News exclusive drone footage of the bridge
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Neiman said the bridge is still intact, and there were no injuries reported on Monday.
City officials estimate the repairs to take anywhere from two to three days and a more permanent fix, including rehabilitating a retention barrier, would take 60 to 90 days.
"Design engineers will assess the roadway and determine when it can be reopened to traffic," said city officials.
The Yorktown Mud Bridge is one of two bridges on the City Council's agenda slated for upgrades through a federal-aid program.
Officials said the estimated cost of the Yorktown Mud Bridge project would run just over $20 million, with TxDOT paying over $18.7 million and the city paying $1.5 million.
Resident's wanting to keep track of other maintained projects in the city can check by clicking here.
