Sinkhole Shuts Down 405 Freeway Lanes

A sinkhole caused by storm runoff opened up on the San Diego (405) Freeway in Hawthorne today, prompting lane closures expected to last until around midnight.

The damage to the freeway’s northbound and southbound carpool lanes in the area of West 135th Street was reported at 11:37 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

The sinkhole, 15 feet deep with a 10-square-foot opening, was discovered by a Caltrans sweeper crew member, said Caltrans spokesman Patrick Chandler.

It was on the approach to a bridge spanning 135th Street, he said.

Concrete would be poured to fill the void, a process that was expected to take until about midnight to complete, Chandler said.

In the meantime, the freeway’s carpool lanes will remain closed between El Segundo Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue, he said.

City News Service; Photos: Caltrans