Murrieta Sinkhole Pops Up, Leads To Traffic Delays

MURRIETA, CA — Traffic was slowed along a popular Murrieta roadway on Thursday after a water leak led to a sinkhole in town. The incident was first reported Thursday morning on Murrieta Hot Springs Road, just east of Margarita Road.

Police first issued an alert around 10:45 a.m., noting that one of the eastbound lanes, between Margarita and Via Princessa, was closed due to a water leak. However, by 3:30 p.m. police said that the westbound side was also partially closed while crews worked on repairs.

"Please be prepared for a delay and remember that the crews are working as fast as they can to make the repairs," police said on Facebook.

Water district crews on the scene said that the roadway was sinking along both the eastbound and westbound sides, as well as in the center median. As of Thursday afternoon, standing water was visible in several spots where Murrieta Hot Springs had appeared to have sunk down.

Traffic was heavy in the area Thursday evening as a result of the leak and subsequent closures.

— Images via Joe Fanaselle