Bakersfield Water Main Break Causes Sinkhole, Disrupts Traffic for Three Blocks
BAKERSFIELD, CA (May 22, 2024) – A significant water main rupture in downtown Bakersfield has created a large sinkhole, forcing the closure of a major intersection and disrupting water service to approximately 50 commercial and residential properties. The incident, which occurred at approximately 2:15 PM local time on Tuesday, involved an 18-inch cast-iron pipe that failed under a major roadway. Emergency crews from the Bakersfield Fire Department and Public Works Department responded to the scene on the 1800 block of Chester Avenue, where the collapsing pavement opened a void estimated to be 15 feet wide and 8 feet deep. Police have cordoned off a three-block radius, rerouting traffic and advising drivers to avoid the area. The Bakersfield City Water Resources Division confirmed that repair crews are working to isolate the leak and begin excavation, though service restoration is not expected until late Wednesday. No injuries have been reported, and officials are investigating the cause of the pipe failure, which they attribute to aging infrastructure. The incident has also prompted a boil-water advisory for affected customers as a precaution.